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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:
Whathaveilost · 01/11/2015 17:00

Bi have never heard of ' another think'

I'm 50 and have lived in Cheshire,Lancashire and Scotland everybody I have heard has said 'thing'

FairNotFair · 01/11/2015 17:00

Think.

Think, think, think.

You win.

Error404usernamenotfound · 01/11/2015 16:57

It's 'think'. Hope your DH enjoys the weeding Grin

80sWaistcoat · 01/11/2015 16:57

Think! I'm 46 and Scottish parents.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 01/11/2015 16:56

On that "language doesn't evolve because people don't pronounce words properly" point .....

I give you, once again, my ewt and my nadder ....
now commonly known as a newt and an adder

I find this most amusing - perhaps I'll send to Stephen Fry as it's quite interesting? (weird sense of humour?)

fusspot66 · 01/11/2015 16:54

THINK
DAMMIT!

cardoon · 01/11/2015 16:52

Thing here (Scottish) - the Thing was father's fist Shock

May I also throw in - heart rending/wrenching?

Whathaveilost · 01/11/2015 16:51

I know, let's ask Judas Priest!

TheGreenNinja · 01/11/2015 16:51

I'm also northern and it's still most definitely think!

GreenPotato · 01/11/2015 16:49

Language doesn't evolve because people don't pronounce words properly

Yes it does! Not with every single mispronunciation, but over time if the mispronunciation becomes popular and reaches a tipping point, it will take over.

If we're letting the Guardian be the authority on think/thing, this is interesting too –
mispronunciation

coffeetasteslikeshit · 01/11/2015 16:48

My DM is from the north GreenPotato so I don't think it's regional... based on a survey of 1!

TheGreenNinja · 01/11/2015 16:48

It's think.
I also wondered what age the thing'ers are. My nan always used to use you've got another think coming when we were children, and I'm in my 40's now, I wouldn't be surprised if thing'ers were younger.

MeolsCop · 01/11/2015 16:47

OF COURSE it's 'think'.

That's it. Next!

clam · 01/11/2015 16:47

RTFT Blue Grin

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/11/2015 16:47

I agree clam. I'm scratching my head that people are proud of using words wrongly. It's puzzling.

It's like saying 'I'm alright Zac' or 'proof of the pudding is in the sniffing'

Just wrong.

coffeetasteslikeshit · 01/11/2015 16:47

One of my DM'S favourite phrases when I was growing up. It's think.

GreenPotato · 01/11/2015 16:47

No, because I don't like "pacific" - just as once I was reluctant to use "hopefully". Same goes for mischievIous Angry hate it hate it. But I can understand that the people who are "wrong" and whose usage winds me up may eventually win the day, just by force of numbers.

I'm now wondering about the regional issue as I'm from the north. No one ever said "think" where I grew up.

LyndaNotLinda · 01/11/2015 16:46

Language doesn't evolve because people don't pronounce words properly

Blueprintorange · 01/11/2015 16:46

It's thing!!

Fallstar · 01/11/2015 16:45

It's 'think'. 'Thing' is incorrect but going by this thread it has seeped into common usage. Grin

squoosh · 01/11/2015 16:45

If 'pacific' to mean specific makes into the OED in 30 years time I'll hold everyone in Oxford hostage.

clam · 01/11/2015 16:44

"I always thought the thing was a thump or similar"

And that's the problem. People have heard the phrase wrongly and are making up justifications for it. Doesn't make it acceptable..

JugglingFromHereToThere · 01/11/2015 16:44

I've never used think ... before today GreenPotato - as I say I could have sworn it was thing but I can see and accept from this thread what I that I've been using the wrong word all this time

EduCated · 01/11/2015 16:44

Absolutely mind-blown Shock me and DP were both certain it was thing! How have I never been time this?!

banff82 · 01/11/2015 16:43

Definitely "think". "Thing" makes no sense in that context Confused

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