* 5 Directing a Conversation (p.7 of 8)
5.33 When you used vulgar language inadvertently
Pardon my French. Listen A “I am sorry for my impolite words.” <The neighbor’s cat got into a rattrap in their backyard. The damned animal screamed all night, pardon my French.”>
5.34 When somebody has asked you about the source of your information
I have my sources. Listen <“The Mayor is going to resign.” – “How do you know that?” – “I have my sources.”>
I have my ways of finding these things out. Listen <“The stock market is about to fall.” – “How can you be so sure?” – “I have my ways of finding these things out.”>
News travels fast. Listen <“The President is going to fire the Secretary of Defense.” – “Who told you that?” – “News travel fast.”>
Bad news travels fast. Listen <“There is a disaster going on in the Gulf of Mexico.” – “How do you know?” – “Bad news travel fast.”>
Good news travels fast. Listen <“Our team is winning the championship.” – “What makes you think so? I haven’t heard anything yet.” – “Good news travels fast.”>
Word travels fast. Listen <“Desmond and Molly eloped last night.” – “Desmond and Molly eloped only last night. Then, why does everyone in town know about it this morning?” – “Word travels fast.”>
It’s common knowledge. Listen A “It is widely known.” <“Are you sure that the Earth is round?” – “It is common knowledge.”>
I put two and two together. Listen A “I figured it out myself from the information available.” <“Food is going to get more expensive this year.” – “Why?” – “I put two and two together. Dry summer, rainy fall, and cold winter kill crops.”>
Just never mind. Listen A “It’s not important. You don’t need to pay attention.” <“How did you find out about Tom and Merry?” – “Just never mind.”>
None of your business. Listen A “It is none of your concern.” <“How did you learn about it?” – “None of your business.”>
I’m not one to kiss and tell. Listen A “I am not one who develops trustful relationships with a person and then tells about it to somebody else. I am not a person who discloses private information received in confidence.” <“Tell me about your informant.” – “No, I won’t. I’m not one to kiss and tell.”>
5.35 When you want to sound believable
That’s the truth. Listen A “I am telling the truth.” <“I have nothing to do with what has happened. That’s the truth.”>
That’s the gospel truth. Listen A “I am telling the absolute truth.” <“I didn’t break your bicycle. That’s the gospel truth.”>
That’s the honest truth. Listen <“The hurricane destroyed the entire city. That’s the honest truth.”>
That’s the honest-to-goodness truth. Listen <“Is Sue going to marry Tom? I don’t believe that!” – “That’s the honest-to-goodness truth.”>
Honest to goodness. Listen <“Are they going to demolish the factory and build an amusement park in its place? I can’t believe that!” – “Yes, they are. Honest to goodness.”>
Honest. Listen <“I want to start a jazz band. Honest.”>
Honestly. Listen <“My darling, you have the sweetest voice. Honestly.”>
True. Listen <“When I grow up, I will have my own auto repair shop. True.”>
Truly. Listen <“I sincerely believe that you will have success in life. Truly.”>
I swear. Listen <“That was a silly thing to do. I swear.”>
I swear to you. Listen <“This information is reliable. I swear to you.”>
I swear on my mother’s grave. Listen <“Whatever happens in life, I’ll always be there for you. I swear on my mother’s grave.”>
I swear to God. Listen <“If you harm my child, you’ll regret about it. I swear to God.”>
Would I lie? Listen <“Boss, your management style is excellent.” – “I think you are exaggerating a little.” – “Would I lie?”>
Would I lie to you? Listen <“Your friend is making stories behind your back.” – “I don’t believe you.” – “Would I lie to you?”>
Why would I lie? Listen <“No, I didn’t steal your pencil. Why would I lie?”>
I’m not kidding. Listen <“Something was wrong with the airplane and it landed on the river! I’m not kidding.>
Believe it or not. Listen A “Whether you believe it or not, this is true.” <“Believe it or not, this little kid saved my life.”>
Frankly speaking,… Listen A “I am going to make a straightforward statement.” <“Frankly speaking, I don’t think you can afford this car.”>
Speaking candidly,… Listen <“Speaking candidly, I think last night’s party was a disaster.”>
5.36 When you request somebody’s trust
Trust me. Listen A “I am telling you the truth. I am not trying to fool you.” <“Are you sure this road will bring us to our destination?” – “Trust me. I know this forest like the back of my hand.”>
Believe me. Listen A “Accept what I am telling you as true.” <“Believe me, this little bakery bakes the best bread in the world.”>
You better believe it. Listen A “I recommend you to trust this statement because to doubt it is not in your interests.” <“They say he is a good doctor. Can he really help me?” – “You better believe it, because if he can’t, you are in trouble.”>
You had better believe it. Listen <“The economic situation is improving.” – “Is it?” – “You’d better believe it. It won’t without your trust.”>
You have my word on this. Listen A “You have my assertion on this.” <“If you go for it, I’ll tell no one. You have my word on this.”>
You have my word. Listen <“I won’t tell a soul about it. You have my word.”>
I give you my word. Listen <“I’ll take this secret to my grave. I give you my word.”>
I give you my word of honor. Listen <“This is just between you and me. I give you my word of honor.”>
Take my word for it. Listen <“This is the best hotel in our town. Take my word for it.”>
You can count on it. Listen A “You can rely on this.” <“I’ll help you when you need it. You can count on it.”>
You can bank on it. Listen <“If you complete your part of the deal, I’ll do mine. You can bank on it.”>
I promise you. Listen A “You can consider my word as a reliable basis for your expectations.” <“Next Sunday we will go to the zoo. I promise you.” – “Promises, promises…”>
5.37 When you request silence
Quiet! Listen A “Stop talking and making noise.” <“Children, quiet! You’re too noisy.”>
Be quiet! Listen <“Be quiet, please. I’m on the phone.”>
Keep quiet! Listen <“Keep quiet! You are too noisy.”>
Silence! Listen A “Stop talking.” <“You’re not supposed to talk in church. Silence!”>
Shut up! Listen <“Hey, I’m trying to sleep. Shut up!”>
Shut your mouth. Listen <“You are such a scoundrel. Shut your mouth and get back to work.”>
Hold your tongue. Listen <“You can only abuse people. Hold your tongue.”>
Not another word! Listen <“Children, it is 11 p.m. Go to sleep. Not another word.”>
Button your lip! Listen <“I don’t need your empty talk. Button your lip!”>
Clam up! Listen <“They can question you. Don’t be a blabber. Clam up!”>
Hush! Listen <“Hush! I can’t hear the speaker.”>
Hush your mouth! Listen <“Your teacher is speaking! Don’t talk back. Hush your mouth!>
Pipe down! Listen A “Be quiet!” <“Stop talking so much. Pipe down.”>
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