Showing your reaction in discussions

There are some fixed expressions which can help you to show your reaction in discussions. Make sure you know the equivalents in your own language.

Exercise 1. Match each situation in List 1 with a suitable expression in List 2. The expressions show different reactions in discussions.

a. Avoiding a digression Stick to the point!

b.Avoiding a disagreement Yes, but it depends what you mean by ...

c. Avoiding saying what you think It’s difficult to say.

d.Showing doubt or suspicion I don’t see what you’re getting at.

e. Showing frustration – try to speed up the

discussion

We’re not getting anywhere.

f. Showing strong disagreement No way!

g. Agreeing strongly You can say that again.

h.Focusing on a possible disagreement Perhaps we’d better agree to differ about

that.

Exercise 2. The following expressions show disagreements of different kinds. Match each expression in List 1 with a meaning in List 2.

You’ve slightly misunderstood what I suggested.

That’s not quite what I meant.

I refuse to accept responsibility for that. 1. That’s not my problem.2. That’s nothing to do with me.

Don’t blame me! That’s hardly my fault.

Don’t introduce irrelevant arguments. That’s not the point.

You are overreacting or exaggerating. That’s taking things too far.

I am annoyed because you are misrepresenting my ideas.

That’s not what I said at all.

Don’t argue with me about something I’m not responsible for

1. That’s not my problem.That’s nothing to do with me.

I am so annoyed I can’t think of a reasonable response, so I just reject what you say.

That’s a ridiculous suggestion.

All of the expressions can be used with It’s instead of That’s. If you use That’s, That’s is strongly stressed, so the expressions sound much firmer, even a little aggressive.

Contributed by Al Rip, © The British Council, 2011

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