In-positive / Hope url
Graduating from college

- Now I’ve got a whole new outlook on life.
- It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.
- It’s my big break.
- It’s opening up a whole new world.
- I’ll be much better off.
- It’s a great way of life.
- The sky’s the limit.
- I’ve been waiting a long time for this, and today’s the day.
- We put a lot of work into it, and now it looks like the effort will bear fruit.
- I feel like I have a new lease on life.
- It’s something I have to live for.
- I have a new lease on life.
- I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
- Things are looking up.
Graduating from college
In-negative / Desperation url
Running away from the Cossacks

- I’m knee deep in alligators.
- I’ve got to get a handle on the situation before it’s too late.
- The people around me are dropping like flies.
- I’m going out of my mind.
- It’s a matter of life and death.
- I’m overcome with fear.
- I just can’t deal with it anymore.
- What going on here?
- I just can’t put up with it any longer.
- It’s every man for himself.
- What else have I got?
Running away from the Cossacks
Out-negative / Annoyed url
You are crazy

- You’re out of your mind.
- Your mind is twisted.
- What do you have, rocks in your head?
- What’s wrong with you?
- You could drive a person insane.
- Are you out of your mind?
- Have you lost your mind?
- You don’t know what you’re saying.
- What’s gotten into you?
- You doesn’t know if you’re coming or going.
- You’ve got some nerve.
- You don’t know what you’re talking about.
- You’re off the wall.
- You’re as crazy as a loon.
- That’s ridiculous.
- How can you justify to yourself what you are doing?
- You should be ashamed of yourself!
- How could you do such a thing?
- Every once in a while you need to be put in your place.
- I don’t see how anybody in their right mind would do something like that.
You are crazy
In-neutral / Caution url
Thinking of taking a high interest loan

- What am I getting myself into this time?
- I hope that this is not something that I will live to regret.
- I have to ask myself, is it worth it?
- If I’m mistaken, things could all come tumbling down.
- I should know better than that.
- There’s got to be an easier way.
- Don’t do anything precipitously that you can’t easily undo.
- I could end up in trouble up to my ears.
- I shouldn’t get myself involved with something that I can’t get out of.
- Let’s cool our heels, and be patient and wait to see what happens.
- I should have realized from the very beginning that it’s important not to spend a lot more than you earn if you don’t want to end up being saddled with a lot of debt - and now it doesn't look as if I have any good options to choose from.
Thinking of taking a high interest loan
Out-neutral / Advice url
Realistic-1

- Try to be realistic, don’t be fooled by wishful thinking.
- You’re kidding yourself.
- You can only go so far.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Life’s not fun and games.
- In my opinion, you’re just fooling yourself.
- I’m just suggesting that you should look at your options again, because in the long run, I think you’re setting yourself up for endless let downs.
- Try to see the situation for what it is, because it’s better if you don’t have to learn that the hard way.
- It’s a question you have to ask yourself.
- You have to be realistic.
- You’re living in a fool’s paradise.
- The reason your ideas are not more successful is that they are all half-baked.
- You’re spending money like it was going out of style.
Realistic-1
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-positive / Concern url
Meeting a friend who’s been up all night studying for a test.

- Perhaps you waited too long to take care of it.
- Have you’ve been burning the midnight oil?
- Next time try not to wait until the last minute.
- You’re working yourself to the bone.
- Perhaps you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.
- You should try to pace yourself better.
- Don’t worry about it, just do your best, and I'm sure that will be good enough.
- You shouldn’t save everything for the last minute.
- You’re burning the candle at both ends.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Meeting a friend who’s been up all night studying for a test.
Out-neutral / Observation url
About Others – Neutral-2

- She’s covered from head to toe.
- You can’t begrudge him for it.
- She won’t take no for an answer.
- I can’t say I blame him.
- You don’t hold a candle to her.
- He’ll do it if he knows what’s good for him.
- He really did it this time.
- This isn’t like them.
- They’re as different as night and day.
- They haven’t exactly been beating down my door.
- It’s raining cats and dogs.
About Others – Neutral-2
In-neutral / Caution url
Invited to a party the night before an exam

- I’m dead set against it.
- Am I making a big mistake?
- I have a funny feeling that I’ve been through this before.
- All that glitters is not gold.
- I don’t know if I’ll should do this on such short notice.
- I can easily see where this is heading.
- It’s a waste of time.
- I should know better than that.
- Have I taken leave of my senses?
- Is it worth it?
- I’ve learned my lesson before, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t repeat that mistake again.
- That's not for now.
Invited to a party the night before an exam
Out-positive / Agreement url
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?

- That’s just the way I like it.
- That sounds reasonable.
- That sounds like a good idea to me.
- Whatever you say is fine with me.
- That would really hit the spot.
- That would do me just fine.
- That’s exactly what I had in mind.
- Don’t even give it a second thought.
- Have it your way.
What do you say about my leaving the steak in the oven another 5 minutes?
Out-positive / Thanks url
After your boss tells you he convinced management to give you a nice raise

- I owe you a debt of gratitude Thank you for your time and effort, and of course the result.
- My gratitude knows no bounds.
- You helped me out of a tight financial squeeze.
- I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.
- Thanks for the vote of confidence.
- Thanks a bunch.
- Thanks for letting me know as soon as you found out.
- You don’t know how good that makes me feel to hear you say that.
- That’s great.
After your boss tells you he convinced management to give you a nice raise
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Raining on the day of the picnic

- Life has its ups and downs.
- It was a chance we had to take.
- It’s just one of those things.
- Life is full of surprises.
- Whatever happens it will be for the best.
- What does that matter?
- There’s not much we can do about it.
- Perhaps it’s really a blessing in disguise.
Raining on the day of the picnic