In-positive / Hope url
Before they announce the winner of the lottery
- I think this is it.
- It’s the chance of a lifetime.
- You know anything’s possible!
- We’re banking on it.
- Even if we don’t win, there’s always next year.
- One could only hope.
- This is the moment that we’ve all been waiting for.
- Maybe it will be different this time.
- Keep your fingers crossed.
- We’re hoping there’s a pot of gold on the other side of the rainbow.
- The price is right.
- I hope and pray that the money will now just start rolling in.
- This could be our ticket to freedom.
- Hope springs eternal.
- I have high hopes for it.
- I have a lot riding on it.
- A big change for the better might be just around the corner.
- It would be the answer to my prayers.
Before they announce the winner of the lottery
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are wrong-2
- This is highway robbery.
- I think you owe me an apology.
- I think what you are doing stinks.
- You’ve got it backwards.
- You’ve got some nerve.
- How could you even think of doing this?
- There’s no excuse for it.
- That was uncalled for.
- I ought to pity you.
- That was uncalled for!
- You don’t know what you’re talking about.
You are wrong-2
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
- There’s nothing to be afraid of.
- You have nothing to worry about.
- Don’t sell yourself short.
- What’s holding you back?
- What could go wrong?
- Your fears are your worst enemy.
- I'm sure they're going to appreciate your trying.
- You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
- At the very worst, they won't use your idea, but it’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
- What's the downside?
- Grab the brass ring.
- Maybe they’ll take you up on it.
- What’s the worst case scenario?
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- No pain, no gain.
- Speak up and make yourself heard.
- You don’t have to sell yourself to me, screw up your courage and say what you have to say to the powers that be.
- Just remind yourself that speaking up is not a bad choice, mind you.
- Don’t worry, they’ll understand.
- They’re on the up and up, and they’re not going to pull any punches.
- You need to stand up for yourself.
- I think you should jump at the opportunity.
- It never hurts to ask.
For a fellow worker who is hesitant to present a new idea to the boss
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
In-neutral / Caution url
Thinking of dating someone from the wrong side of the tracks
- I feel that persion might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
- Assumptions can be deceptive.
- I don’t know where this is all heading.
- If you ask me I think I should just call the whole thing off.
- I think that could be like opening up a Pandora’s box.
- That might be wishful thinking.
- Curiosity killed the cat.
- Where there’s smoke there’s fire.
- I have a funny feeling that I should drop it like a hot potato if I know what’s good for me.
- Am I seeing the world with rose colored glasses?
Thinking of dating someone from the wrong side of the tracks
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who just published his first book
- That’s a positive start.
- What a great accomplishment!
- You’re on a roll.
- More power to you.
- Sock it to me.
- Your off and running.
- I’m glad that it worked out.
- You do what you do very well.
- You did much more than you realize.
- That’s a step in the right direction.
- You’re doing a great job.
- It turns out that you accomplished more than you even realized.
For a friend who just published his first book
In-positive / Realizing url
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
- I could see it right from the beginning.
- I suspected as much.
- It finally dawned on me.
- That explains everything!
- That’s it, in a nutshell.
- It was the missing link.
- Just put two and two together, and it all makes sense.
- I saw it coming, because though it didn’t seem so at first, in retrospect it was a dead give away.
- It will do it to you every time.
- It was on the tip of my tongue all along.
- That never would have occurred to me.
- I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me.
Finding out 'who did it' at the end of a mystery novel
Out-positive / Concern url
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
- My heart goes out to you.
- Tomorrow is another day.
- There’s always hope.
- Things are tough all over.
- I’m sorry to hear that.
- That’s a crying shame.
- I know what this means to you.
- I’m sure you’ll recover from this, slowly but surely.
- Who knows, perhaps in the long run this could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
- You look down in the dumps.
- I don’t envy you.
After a friend just found out he’s been fired from his job
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Starting the marathon race
- I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
- You know anything’s possible.
- Times they are a changing.
- I’ll just deal with it the best I can.
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Starting the marathon race
Out-neutral / Advice url
Opportunity
- It’s a once in a lifetime chance.
- You won’t regret it.
- It’s a golden opportunity.
- Don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers.
- When opportunity knocks, be ready to open the door.
- Try it, you’ll like it.
- Make the most of it.
- You can’t afford to miss it.
- It’s right up your alley.
- You don’t know what you’re missing.
- It’s a veritable goldmine.
Opportunity
In-neutral / Caution url
Telling someone a secret
- The less said about it the better.
- Don’t breathe a word of it.
- I was sworn to secrecy.
- Mum’s the word.
- This could be something that I might come to regret.
- This might be against my better judgement.
- I have to ask myself, why am I doing this?
Telling someone a secret
In-negative / Doubt url
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up
- You’re just trying to make me feel better.
- How can you be so sure?
- I think the truth is more complicated than the way you’re making it sound.
- What you’re saying just doesn’t hold water.
- I wouldn’t hold my breath.
- That’ll be the day.
- I don’t believe it for a minute.
- After what already happened, what difference does it make anyway?
- Maybe yes, maybe no.
Being told that a bad investment you made will go back up