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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"another think coming" or "another thing coming" - AIBU to suggest we accept both?

205 replies

JAM2018 · 24/12/2022 11:31

Christmas is a time for chestnuts and I've been musing on this old one...

"If you're planning to go to the party wearing that, you've got another..."

...think coming

OR

...thing coming

?

The facts appear to be that "think" was in the original phrase, but - rightly or wrongly - "thing" is well-established as an alternative:

"Another think coming" - examples have been found from before 1900: itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/004972.html

"Another thing coming" - example exists from 1919: itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/004971.html

As that second link (written by an academic linguist) mentions, the OED sees "thing" as a misapprehension of "think", but both seem popular.

====

Arguments I've heard on either side plus my response:

"another think coming" doesn't make sense / think is a verb --> 'think' can be a noun, you could be saying "if you think that you are going out dressed like that, then what is coming to you is some time where you will need to sit down and have another think (until you change your mind)", "Have a good think about this" - 'think' is a noun.

"think coming" isn't easy to say, the 'k' and 'c' clash --> yes, but that doesn't mean it's not a valid phrase, but it probably does explain the mishearing or preference for "thing coming"

"another thing coming" doesn't make sense - what "thing"? if it's "another", what's the first "thing" --> lots of idiomatic phrases are hard to make sense of when you try to analyse them (I thought of "sick as a parrot" off the top of my head - but parrots aren't sick? oh, and actually, what on earth is the sense of "off the top of my head"?). There's enough sense for people to use it: "if this is the thing that you are planning to do, then you are mistaken, and you will soon discover that there is another (different) thing that you will be doing [ thing that will be happening to you]".

But everyone I know says "think" / everyone I know says "thing" / it's what I've always said --> are you sure that's what everyone is saying because it's hard to distinguish in spoken English? For most of my life, I just naturally thought it was "thing", and now I'm convinced the 'correct' version is "think", but I'm not too fussed about "thing" as it is so common.

====

I was amused when years ago, David Cameron used it in a speech, and two separate articles in The Telegraph quoted him, one writing "thing" and one "think" (unfortunately, I've searched and can no longer find the articles).

So, you can go on fighting for your choice and insist that logic is on your side. Personally, I just appreciate the way both have been accepted and I enjoy it when people discover the other version for the first time. AIBU?

YABU = you need to pick a side

YANBU = agree, let both thrive

OP posts:
CatJumperTwat · 24/12/2022 11:34

I'm not a purist and agree language evolves etc etc but "another thing coming" just doesn't make sense, despite your arguments. To me it will always be a mistake, not a valid alternative.

Windinmyhair · 24/12/2022 11:34

I’m v much of of the pick a side camp!

mainly because ‘thing’ is wrong!

but in reality as long and no one tries to tell me saying ‘think coming’ is wrong I won’t berate them for their daftness saying thing!

😉

WandaWonder · 24/12/2022 11:34

Unless you are talking about losing marks in school/uni or putting it on job applications meaning on serious things

People can use what they like surely?

People may stick it on there 'this annoys me list' but there is no law against it

LakeWindermere · 24/12/2022 11:35

Team "think" here.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 24/12/2022 11:36

'Thing' is wrong, but it's not something that bothers me greatly. Abuse of the word 'literally' is far more annoying; I refuse to accept that 'literally' is now valid as a general intensifier.

Zimtsterne · 24/12/2022 11:37

Definitely "think". "If you think XYZ, you have got another think coming."

Spenn · 24/12/2022 11:38

It's think. Thing doesn't make sense.

Gatehouse77 · 24/12/2022 11:38

Should we agree to say would/could/should of because so many people mishear it and get it wrong?

Or should we be teaching people what makes sense?

Krustykrabpizza · 24/12/2022 11:38

Team thing here and I don't think I've ever heard someone say think!

Zimtsterne · 24/12/2022 11:39

Zimtsterne · 24/12/2022 11:37

Definitely "think". "If you think XYZ, you have got another think coming."

Didn't finish my thought. It's a two-part phrase, hence the repetition of the word.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 24/12/2022 11:40

I have never heard anyone say anything other than thing!

KylieCharlene · 24/12/2022 11:41

I'm in the 'thing' camp.
In my 40+ years I've never actually heard someone use the phrase with 'think' in in (although I did read it was a thing)😀

Lindy2 · 24/12/2022 11:42

Another think coming? What on earth is that? What's a think? Surely the word should be thought. A think isn't a noun.

Thing makes a lot more sense and is what I'll continue to say.

RaraRachael · 24/12/2022 11:44

I've never heard anyone say anything other than think. I suppose it should should really be "You've got another thought coming"

We shouldn't change language just because some people get it wrong otherwise we'd be saying Chester Drawers, must of etc should be allowed. Where would it ever end?

SinnerBoy · 24/12/2022 11:44

I don't think I've ever heard either of them. My mother used to say, "You've got another thought coming!"

LaPerduta · 24/12/2022 11:44

So many misapprehensions happen because people just don't read. I saw a Facebook post the other day relating to baubles and after half a dozen replies about baubles someone still wrote a comment about "ball balls". 🙄

Anyway, it's "another think". But I will accept that "thing" is commonly (erroneously) used.

Somanysocks · 24/12/2022 11:44

Zimtsterne · 24/12/2022 11:37

Definitely "think". "If you think XYZ, you have got another think coming."

This is correct.

Oysterbabe · 24/12/2022 11:45

You need to pick a side and that side is think 😄

pictish · 24/12/2022 11:47

Oh it's think. Absolutely. You can say thing if you like but it'll always be wrong.

DadDadDad · 24/12/2022 11:53

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 24/12/2022 11:36

'Thing' is wrong, but it's not something that bothers me greatly. Abuse of the word 'literally' is far more annoying; I refuse to accept that 'literally' is now valid as a general intensifier.

Except, @PlaitBilledDuckyPuss , "literally" has been used an intensifier for centuries, and it's almost always possible to tell which meaning is intended. There was a Pedants' Corner thread about that: www.mumsnet.com/talk/pedants_corner/4508189-Literally-a-new-perspective

IToldYouAmillionTimesAlready · 24/12/2022 11:54

Another THINK coming. "Thing" doesn't make sense to me.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 24/12/2022 12:02

DadDadDad · 24/12/2022 11:53

Except, @PlaitBilledDuckyPuss , "literally" has been used an intensifier for centuries, and it's almost always possible to tell which meaning is intended. There was a Pedants' Corner thread about that: www.mumsnet.com/talk/pedants_corner/4508189-Literally-a-new-perspective

I don't think the examples quoted in the linked thread prove this. 'Literally feasted' refers to a use of 'feasted' to mean enjoy, rather than eat. 'Literally glowed' - of course a person can literally glow, if blood rushes to the surface of their skin. 'The apple of one's eye' is in itself a metaphor; it has no literal meaning.

DadDadDad · 24/12/2022 12:07

I disagree with your comments, @PlaitBilledDuckyPuss , but as this is not a thread about "literally", I won't argue about it here.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 24/12/2022 12:11

... as the plumber with a lisp said, having broken the basin ... 🤔

Stressedmum2017 · 24/12/2022 12:15

If you say 'think' I'm going to put you in the camp of 'expresso' and 'rest bite' ie you sound like a bit of a thicko.