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Original poster

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

812 replies

NotMyRealName2015 · 01/11/2015 14:56

I’ll clarify Blush

DH and I were having a light hearted debate about who was going to sort the garden out this afternoon (there are weeds growing out of weeds, and we have guests coming this week)
DH said that if I thought he was doing it today ‘I had another thing coming’.

I pointed out the phrase was ‘another think coming’ and that he should now go and do the garden as punishment for his failure. Grin
However, he is insisting I am wrong and that ‘thing’ is the right word. I say that doesn’t even make sense! What ‘thing’ is coming?? He just says ‘English doesn’t always make sense.’ (Not technically his first language but he has a British parent so has always been bilingual and is completely fluent)

MN jury needed. Who is correct??
Loser will obviously be doing the garden. Winner will sit down with coffee and biscuits, looking smug and saying 'you've missed a bit.'

OP posts:
DadDadDad · 06/11/2015 15:35

That seems unlikely given it is a widespread misapprehension. Is it just your prejudice or do you have evidence that think and thing are correlated with superior and inferior education?

purpleponcho · 06/11/2015 15:24

POORLY educated people.

DadDadDad · 06/11/2015 15:00

Well, think may be right but I don't think you can claim "indisputably" as this thread has demonstrated (along with the links posted here showing that educated people use thing, unaware that it's an error). Smile

80sMum · 06/11/2015 14:20

The word into question is most definitely and indisputably THINK!

The End.

Redglitter · 06/11/2015 00:38

Nope it's definitely a think

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 05/11/2015 21:27

It'd a thing. Not a think

SurferJet · 05/11/2015 19:32

It's worth reading the entire thread just for clams last post Grin

Vixxfacee · 05/11/2015 18:49

That's what I thought.

purpleponcho · 05/11/2015 18:48

Snort @ clam.

clam · 05/11/2015 17:22

Blimey! Classics?

DingleberryDip · 05/11/2015 15:48

Classics aren't all about the lolz though are they? Some of them are informative and educational.

But maybe Pedants' Corner is a more fitting home.

Redglitter · 05/11/2015 15:46

Classics? Really Confused

Definitely not what I'm looking for when I pop into classics for a read

DadDadDad · 05/11/2015 14:17

Hardly a Classic

I think you are right, as it doesn't have the broad scope of a classic. That's why I said PC, despite Juggling's mockery. This is exactly the sort of thing that gets seriously discussed in PC.

purpleponcho · 05/11/2015 14:14

Hardly a Classic.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 05/11/2015 14:07

HaHa for Pedants' Corner Dad

WizardOfToss · 05/11/2015 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DadDadDad · 05/11/2015 13:56

Some of us thought it better in Pedants' Corner, but MNHQ knows best!

WizardOfToss · 05/11/2015 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MNHQ
BeccaMumsnet · 05/11/2015 13:49

Hi everyone - we're going to pop this one over to Classics Grin

DadDadDad · 05/11/2015 12:03

GP obviously doesn't play golf.

reallybadidea · 05/11/2015 11:49

Here's another good one:

My friend's daughter has been unwell and still too weak to go to school. The GP reportedly said 'it's path on the course' with this virus.

squoosh · 05/11/2015 11:39

So can we come to a consensus that both sides are right before we reach 1000 posts?

No.

DadDadDad · 05/11/2015 11:37

Yes, I believe the OED quotes "thing" as a "misapprehension", so your DH should get in touch with them - I'm sure they employ some well-qualified people, but no doubt they would want to hear from a world expert. Grin

I think it is the case that widespread usage can wear away the original meaning and usurp the previously accepted form (look at the history of the word "nice"). So it's conceivable that "thing coming" could one day wipe out "think coming", but we're not there yet.

partialderivative · 05/11/2015 11:32

I would have said 'think' (actually I would more probably have said 'thought')

But I stand corrected as evidenced by those masters of the melody and champions of linguistic accuracy, Chas 'n Dave.

In 'There Ain't No Pleasin' You' their website quotes the lyrics as being:

^Now if you think, I don’t mean what I say and I’m only bluffing
You’ve got another thing coming, I’m telling ya that for nothing^

CactusAnnie · 05/11/2015 11:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.