* 20 Unpleasant Conversations (p.5 of 5)
20.20�� When you want to sound sarcastic about what a person has done
Are you happy now?�� Listen�� <�Your remark ruined the dinner. Are you happy now?�>
Are you satisfied?�� Listen�� <�Now your little sister is crying. Are you satisfied?�>
Aren't you proud of yourself?�� Listen�� <�You broke the girl�s heart. Aren�t you proud of yourself?�>
20.21�� When you try to avoid an unpleasant conversation
Do we have to go through all that again?�� Listen�� A �Do we have to discuss the same subject once more?��� <�I still can�t get over what happened last night.� � �I told you I was sorry. Do we have to go through all that again?�>
Let�s not go through all that again.�� Listen�� <�Sometime I would like to explain my behavior on the cruise ship.� � �Let�s not go through all that again.�>
Please!�� Listen�� A �Please stop talking about it!��� <�What are we going to do about your blunder?� � �Please! How many times do you need to bring it up?�>
Here we go again.�� Listen�� A �I am forced to discuss the same unpleasant topic again.��� <�I would like to discuss your getting drunk at the party.� � �Here we go again.�>
20.22�� When a person is being aggressive
Are you trying to start something?�� Listen�� A �Are you going to pick a fight?��� <�Hey, man! I�m talking to you. Come over here, you dummy.� � �Are you trying to start something?�>
Just exactly what are you getting at?�� Listen�� A �What is the result you are trying to get? Are you going to start a fight?��� <�Why don�t you get back to where you came from?� � �Just exactly what are you getting at?�>
Just what exactly are you trying to say?�� Listen�� <�You look like an idiot in your silly clothes.� � �Just what exactly are you trying to say? Is there a problem?�>
Were you talking to me?�� Listen�� <�We don�t want your kind around here.� � �Were you talking to me?�>
Have you got a problem?�� Listen�� <�You look like something the cat dragged in. Your presence is causing discomfort to the other customers in this bar.� � �Have you got a problem?�>
What do you mean by that?�� Listen�� <�Do you always goof up? Can you do anything right?� � �What do you mean by that?�>
20.23�� When you are angry with an aggressive person
Get out of my face!�� Listen�� A �Don�t be in my view! I don�t want to see you!��� <�You are driving me up the wall! Get out of my face!�>
Get off my back!�� Listen�� A �Don�t be a burden on my back!��� <�Stop criticizing me! Get off my back!�>
Get off my tail!�� Listen�� A �Don�t follow me!��� <�Why are you following me? Get off my tail!�>
Get off my ass!�� Listen�� <�What do you need from me? Get off my ass!�>
I�m fed up with you!�� Listen�� A �I have had too much of your aggressive behavior!��� <�I can�t abide your abusive language. I�m fed up with you!�>
Screw you!�� Listen�� A �I am very angry with you! Go to hell!��� <�Did you come to me to add insult to injury? You stole my boyfriend, and now you are offering me your friendship again as a sign of reconciliation? Screw you!>
20.24�� When you don�t believe that a person who is threatening you has serious intentions
Do you mean to say something?�� Listen�� A �Do you really mean what you have said? Don�t you want to take it back?��� <�I�m leaving you now. I�m returning to my ex-boyfriend Bobby. Good-bye.� � �What have you just said? Do you mean to say something?�>
You can�t mean that!�� Listen�� A �I am sure you don�t mean what you have said!��� <�I hate the day when I met you! I�m done with you!� � �You can�t mean that! Why are you so mad?�>
You wouldn�t do that!�� Listen�� A �I am sure you mightn�t do such thing!��� (used with wouldn�t or couldn�t)�� <�I�m so mad at you that I could slap you in the face.� � �You wouldn�t do that! You can�t hit a woman.�>
You wouldn�t dare!�� Listen�� A �You are threatening me, but you are not brave enough!��� <�Shut up or I�ll hit you in the head.� � �You wouldn�t dare! I�m stronger than you.�>
You and what army?�� Listen�� A �You are threatening me, but do you have power to make your threat real?��� <�I�m going to punch you!� � �Really? You and what army?�>
20.25�� When you want a person to stay out of your affairs
Mind your own business.�� Listen�� A �Make yourself busy with your own affairs. Stop prying into my life.��� <�You need a haircut.� � �Mind your own business. I like the way I am.�>
I'll thank you to mind your own business.�� Listen�� <�Does your wife make more money than you?� � �I�ll thank you to mind your own business.�>
It�s none of your business.�� Listen�� A �It is none of your concern.��� <�How much did you pay for your new luxury car?� � �Goodness gracious, Jim! It�s none of your business.�>
That's none of your affair.�� Listen�� <�You need to fix yourself up.� � �Good grief! That�s none of your affair.�>
What�s it to you?�� Listen�� A �Why are you interested in this business?��� <�You suddenly found yourself in a predicament. What are you going to do now?� � �What�s it to you?�>
Don't tell me what to do.�� Listen�� A �Don�t give me your orders and recommendations.��� <�You�ve got to stop drinking.� � �Don�t tell me what to do. I can take care of myself.�>
Keep your nose out of my business.�� Listen�� <�Bob, can I have a word with you?� � �What�s up, man?� � �I don�t appreciate your asking my sister about my income. Keep your nose out of my business.�>
Keep out of this.�� Listen�� A �Don�t make yourself involved.��� <�I guess, your cousin is in trouble.� � �Keep out of this. Don�t you have enough problems of your own?�>
Stay out of this.�� Listen�� <�I see you are in conflict with the boss.� � �Stay out of this. Don�t get concerned with other people�s matters.�>
20.26�� When you are scolding a person
Shame on you!�� Listen�� <�Jane, I think I have inadvertently read your letter to Jim.� � �Shame on you! Don�t read my papers!�>
For shame!�� Listen�� A �This is shameful!��� <�I broke a plate in the kitchen.� � �For shame! It belonged to my favorite china set.�>
20.27�� When you are trying to stop a person from an illegal action
You�ll never get away with it.�� Listen�� A �If you do it, you will not escape punishment.��� <�Your plan is illegal. Even if you pull it off, you�ll never get away with it.�>
You�ll go to jail.�� Listen�� <�You can�t steal cars. You�ll go to jail.�>
You�ll end up in prison.�� Listen�� A �If you do it, you will go to jail.��� <�What you are thinking about is a crime. You�ll end up in prison.�>
I would not do that for love or money.�� Listen�� A �There is absolutely no reason to do that.��� (used with or or nor)�� <�We can rob a convenience store.� � �I would not do that for love nor money. There are security cameras everywhere.�>
20.28�� When you want a person to leave your property alone
Look with your eyes, not your hands.�� Listen�� A �Don�t touch it.��� <�I like your new motorbike. Can I touch it?� � �Look with your eyes, not your hands.�>
Did I say you could touch that?�� Listen�� <�Mother, the birthday cake you bought for dad is so richly decorated!� � �Did I say you could touch it? Hands off! Wait until the celebration tonight.�>
If you break it, you pay for it.�� Listen�� <My sister told me in the antique store, �Don�t touch anything here. If you break it, you pay for it.�>
If you break it, you bought it.�� Listen�� <�I would rather you didn�t touch this large vase. If you break it, you bought it. There will be hell to pay.�>
Excuse me, that's mine.�� Listen�� <In the grocery store I got distracted and an elderly lady inadvertently grabbed the shopping cart with my purchases. I told her, �Excuse me, that�s mine.�>
Hands off!�� Listen�� A �Keep your hands off!��� <�Be careful! You can accidentally damage this fine china cup. Hands off!�>
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