Out-positive / Encouragement url
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
- Knock ‘em dead.
- Give it all you’ve got!
- It’s a great start.
- It’s your moment of truth.
- Don’t give out on us now.
- The sky’s the limit.
- We’re confident that if you break through, you’ll be in the clear.
To a quarterback at half-time with the score tied
Out-positive / Concern url
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
- I hope you’re feeling better.
- Can I get you something?
- You look a little better than before.
- Now, that wasn’t so painful, was it?
- I’m glad to see that you’re up and about.
- How are you doing?
- I was sick with worry.
- Would you like something?
- Put your mind at ease.
- I was worried sick about it.
- Coming to visit was the least I could do.
- Thank goodness the body has a way of healing itself.
- If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.
- You have my blessings.
- Is everything OK?
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are guilty
- You look like the cat that swallowed the canary.
- That’s pretty under-handed.
- You’re getting away with murder.
- It’s all your fault.
- I caught you red handed.
- You were caught with your hand in the cookie jar.
- What kind of game are you playing?
- I feel sorry for you.
- You know what you did.
You are guilty
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who invested in a stock that did well and then crashed
- It wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
- You can cope with it.
- You can turn it into a growth and learning experience.
- You can rest assured that if I were in your shoes, I would have done exactly what you did.
- It certainly started off with the bang.
- Don’t worry, hang on tight, it’s going to be all right.
- You’re acting as cool as a cucumber.
- I guess whatever goes up, must come down.
For a friend who invested in a stock that did well and then crashed
In-negative / Confusion url
To someone explaining calculus
- I haven’t the foggiest/slightest/vaguest idea of what you’re talking about.
- I can’t make heads or tails of it.
- I don’t understand.
- Whatever do you mean?
- You’ve got me stumped.
- I don’t know what to make of it.
- It doesn’t make any sense.
- How could that possibly be?
- It’s Greek to me.
To someone explaining calculus
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I see your point of view
- I understand your position.
- I got the point.
- You’ve made your point.
- You started me thinking.
- That’s a point well taken.
- You have a point.
- I must say, that is very tempting.
- That sounds like a reasonable alternative.
- OK, sounds like a plan.
- I must admit that what you are saying has the ring of truth.
I see your point of view
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Going to sleep after a long day
- I’m pooped and totally worn out, and I’m going to hit the sack.
- I’m no worse off for wear and tear.
- Time just flies when you’re having fun.
- There’s only so many hours in the day.
- Tomorrow’s another day.
- It’s as good a time as any.
- At one point you just have to call it day.
- I’m bushed, I think I’m going to hit the sack.
Going to sleep after a long day
In-neutral / Acceptance url
After an operation
- It’s just going to take time.
- I’m feeling as well as can be expected given the circumstances.
- I think for a while I’ll just have to get used to living with it hanging over my head.
- I’ll take each day as it comes.
- I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- It is what it is.
- I can’t complain.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- It takes some getting used to.
- At first after the operation, I felt achy all over, but I recovered bit by bit, day by day, slowly but surely.
- It could have been a whole lot worse.
- Life has its challenges.
After an operation
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who is depressed
- I never promised you a rose garden.
- You’re putting up a brave front.
- It can’t be as bad as all that.
- You have to look at the bright side.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself.
- Alright, get it out of your system.
- I know how you feel.
- It’s a step in the right direction.
- I think you can figure this out for yourself.
- With a bit of luck and hard work it will all work out fine in the end.
- You have to look yourself in the eye and ask yourself plain and simple, with all your abilities, what’s holding you back from fulfilling more of your potential?
- It looks worse than it really is.
- Don’t you worry, you will be fine.
- Do the best you can.
- What’s eating you?
- You have your whole life ahead of you.
For a friend who is depressed
Out-positive / Concern url
To a friend who is very depressed
- Don’t go bonkers on me.
- What’s wrong now?
- What’s on your mind?
- I hate seeing you like this.
- You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
- What are you so edgy about?
- Has the cat got your tongue?
- It’s good for you to get out once in a while.
- It seems as if you don’t know whether you’re coming or going.
- I’ll do anything I can.
- How can I ease your burden?
- I won’t be judgmental.
- I'm on your side.
- What’s come over you?
- Perhaps there are some things that I can take off your hands.
- Take things one day at a time.
- There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
- Take each day as it comes.
- Always know that I’m here for you.
- Sometimes it’s darkest just before the dawn.
- Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
- Pull yourself together.
- Hold on tight, it will be alright.
To a friend who is very depressed
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-2
- I’ve given it some thought, and I’ll share with you my honest conclusions.
- I’m all ears.
- Tell it to me straight.
- I got it, loud and clear.
- I’ll see what I can do.
- I have to think it over.
- I see where you’re headed.
- I wasn’t looking at it that way.
- That remains to be seen.
- Let’s not skirt around the issue.
- It’s food for thought.
- I gathered that.
- I'm just trying to let you know my way of looking at it.
- What did you have in mind?
- I’m giving you my full attention.
- Will you swear to it?
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-2
Out-negative / Anger url
Stop what you are doing-2
- Are you trying to start up with me?
- You wouldn’t dare.
- Let that be a warning to you.
- There’s no excuse for that.
- Who do you think I am?
- Hold your horses.
- Don’t you dare do any such thing.
- Haven’t you done enough harm already?
- Don’t make a scene.
- Let’s drop the subject!
- Wait just a cotton picking minute.
- Where do you think you’re going?
- You just can’t help yourself, can you?
- Enough of that.
- OK, enough of this for now.
Stop what you are doing-2