Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
ShelaghTurner · 01/11/2015 16:43

It's think! You're all mad!

catsofa · 01/11/2015 16:42

You are all insane (on the first page of comments anyway), it is think. LTB.

clam · 01/11/2015 16:42

So, GreenPotato, "I actually hate "pacific" instead of "specific"

Would you therefore start using "pacific" just because other ignorant people have been getting it wrong all these years? Would you refer to it as an alternative "version" of the word? Or would you think "no, that's wrong, it's "specific" and I will use the correct word?

unlucky83 · 01/11/2015 16:42

I think it is regional ...grew up in the NW England and never heard anyone say think ...
I always thought the thing was a thump or similar...a punishment.
So if you think you are going out tonight you have got another thing coming. So if you do go out you'll also get something else - get a punishment ...

Grapejuicerocks · 01/11/2015 16:41

Perhaps it's become confused because people do say "and another thing- blah blah" But that's got a different meaning completely.

GreenPotato · 01/11/2015 16:41

Thing does make logical sense. Think does too, clearly, but thing also does.

GreenPotato · 01/11/2015 16:40

Just because something started one way / was the original usage, doesn't make it always right. As in "a nadder/ an adder" etc. People would look at you stranger now if you insisted on calling it a "nadder" even though you could bleat that that's how it started.

If we can only use things as they were originally used, we wouldn't have much language at all.

CactusAnnie · 01/11/2015 16:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlpacaLypse · 01/11/2015 16:39

Think.

Gavel.

AnneElliott · 01/11/2015 16:39

You're right OP. Who says "thing"? It doesn't make sense,

GreenPotato · 01/11/2015 16:38

Yes but if you think there is such a thing as "absolutely 100% wrong and always will be" then you don't understand language change. While there is such a thing as "considered wrong" at a particular point in history, things become "right" through change in usage. Therefore loads of people saying which version they use is actually very relevant. If loads of people have been using both versions for donkey's years, then a linguist might well argue they are interchangeable/both right.

clam · 01/11/2015 16:37

"I still think if they are both current, they are both current."

THEY ARE NOT BOTH CURRENT BECAUSE "THING" IS WRONG!!!!!

HolgerDanske · 01/11/2015 16:37

Oh autocorrect! Uhm*

WhatamessIgotinto · 01/11/2015 16:37

Of course it's think, thing makes no sense at all! So many phrases sound odd but are still correct. It basically means that you will have to rethink.

HolgerDanske · 01/11/2015 16:37

Hum, it's definitely think. A lot of people have been confused by it though which is why there's now another wrong version where people use thing.

A bit like a lot of Americans say I could care less.

The correct version is you've got another think coming.

PrettyBrightFireflies · 01/11/2015 16:36

Katie Hopkins and the Oxford English Dictionary - yup, both as bad as one another!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/11/2015 16:36

I'd suggest that anyone wanting to use a phrase but can't be bothered to use the correct words within that phrase, shouldn't use it. You sound ridiculous to everyone else.

It's THINK.

CactusAnnie · 01/11/2015 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wicklewisa · 01/11/2015 16:35

My DH wants to know did either of you do the 'thing' that needed doing?
Also got a debate going on here..he thinks he should be thing..of course its Think, got to be, to go with the 'thought'?!

Grapejuicerocks · 01/11/2015 16:35

Could it be an age thing? I'm nearly 50 and remember my grandma saying think, so thats an expression at least 100 years old. Are the thingers younger, learning from younger people who have got their wires crosed more recently?

mercifulTehlu · 01/11/2015 16:35

God this thread is frustrating! The OP asked which version was correct, not which version you happen to say (and will apparently doggedly continue to say, in spite of the fact that it is absolutely wrong and makes no sense)!

CatMilkMan · 01/11/2015 16:33

It's thing and anyone that says think is as bad as Katie Hopkins.

Nonnainglese · 01/11/2015 16:33

It's definitely 'think'

NewMrsX · 01/11/2015 16:33

Think

Tokelau · 01/11/2015 16:33

It's think, you're right. Smile

Swipe left for the next trending thread