Has DH got another think coming or have I got another thing coming???

Really! I've always thought it was thing!
As in you've got another thing coming ( and that THING will be something even worse, like a punch to the arm/bucket of water over your head )

I didn't realise "thing" was a thing -I've always said "think" and had no idea there was an alternative. But I've also found out that I am by no means in the majority in thinking "spitting feathers" means thirsty. I don't know what I'd do without Google!

Starky another favourite of mine is "escape goat", very similar to think and thing I expect.

I have always said "thing" like your DH. I'll have to Google the phrase now! Think just sounds wrong.

It's think! How could it possibly be thing??? Wouldn't make any sense. Enjoy your coffee and biscuits...

It's THINK

Makes me laugh all these misheard phrases. Someone on my FB last night said they were going trickle treating!

My dp winds me up by always saying for example "do you want a cup of tea or no?"
Using no instead of not. I repeatedly ask him not to as now my dd has started saying it incorrectly

silvermantela I suppose it was just my logic and I'd never questioned it before this thread.

However, I had a fairly epic penny drop moment last week when I realised that 'artic' lorry was short for articulated, and not, arctic, which was what I thought it was. I thought that "arctic lorries" carried cold food and were basically massive refrigerators! You learn something new! I'd never thought about it until I saw it written down!

I still can't get over how all the comments in the beginning were wholly convinced that 'thing' is correct.

I suspect there was a large element of the classic MN herd mentality: the first couple said "thing", then a whole batch of people who weren't entirely sure said to themselves "Of course it's "thing"!" and leapt in to post that and it gathered a bit of momentum before it began going the other way.

You see the same thing with issues like who is BU: the first couple of comments say OP is BU, a batch more say OP is definitely BU, now could anyone think differently. Then some brave soul points out that actually she's NBU, posters start turning on her for saying such an outrageous thing, then a couple more weigh in on the NBU side, and people start wavering and it does a complete U-turn to a unanimous NBU.

Those of you who think that it's thing have got another think coming, and you are just trying to find a scrape groat for your error

I did actually see a chest of draws advertised earlier, I nearly took a picture.

It's think.

Think. Of course it's "think".

Those of you who think that it's thing have got another think coming, and you are just trying to find a scrape groat for your error.

The rest of us are on tenterhooks, hoping to see a pacific example of correct useage.

Don't get me started on less and fewer.

okay, greenpotato, I do actually agree, starky's explanation makes partial sense (although I still think if you used it in an actual sentence it wouldn't really work)...but just because you can justify something doesn't mean it's right.

Someone upthread used the example of 'free reign' as another common error - I actually think that would make perfect sense in the context it is (wrongly) used, as a king/queen back in the day would be the ultimate power and be able to do what ever they liked during the course of their reign, i.e. reign freely. BUT... I know the saying is actually free rein, and therefore, although I can make up a plausible reason for saying free reign, I don't, because it's wrong!

My mind is blown!
I'm not for one minute arguing with the 'think'ers, but I was 100% sure it was 'thing' until reading this thread (I think I'd always understood it as some kind of veiled threat, as mentioned by PPs). I don't think I've ever heard anyone day 'another think', but I will listen out from now on!!

Arrggghhh! Tenderhooks is one of the few things that brings out the grammar hammer in me!

My mind is blown!

This thread has me on tenderhooks...

I've always been very aware of the usage of 'thing', I've just always known it was wrong.

It's another "think" coming. As in, another thought.

Sigh.

I saw someone recently write "same-o, same-o" instead of "same old, same old." And "butt naked" instead of "buck naked."

I said that because plenty of people on this thread have described never having even been aware of the other usage from the one they use - both ways round.

"I've also seen "thing" written down many times so it's not just mishearing."

That doesn't disprove mis-hearing. All it means is that people have mis-heard it in the past and written it down as they think that is the term.

"and so has everyone they ever knew"
I'd dispute that, too. It's not such a common phrase that I would have much idea if "everyone I've ever known" uses the correct form or not. I've never run a poll. It's an easy claim to make, but not one which can easily be verified.

I'm going to get some rest bite from this discussion.

Good work opehelia.

Some of you need to get down off your pedalstools

Because if you don't this thread will be a damp squid.

yambe. You hadn't read all of the thread before you posted have you?