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

[JAM2018]

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

I'm delighted to tell you all that I have just scored a major win with DS25.

I have finally managed to convince him that 'think' is correct, not 'thing' as he (and most young people, I suspect) would usually say.

#feelingsmug

No. As above, "think"is correct, but strangely (linguistically speaking) "thing" is more common.
@FloydPepper I don't think so. The thing with thing/think (in this context) is that they aren't part of a literal phrase. They're idiomatic anyway. Many of which, if we take their literal meanings, make no sense. So, effectively, it doesn't ultimately matter in terms of language change (over a very long time obviously) if one item in the phrase changes- as long as the meaning is still understood.

"Pacific" instead of "specific" is just misspelling something as a result of mis-hearing it. So very unlikely to ever become "accepted".

If you look, though, at what I said about February and Wednesday - that's the opposite "mistake" to "Pacific" as it's a pronunciation mistake we make (at the moment) Yet it's generally accepted that the "wrong" pronunciation is now so generalised that we may as well lose the redundant letters. Probably not in our lifetime though!

Have a think about that and come back later.

(Though that is another of the reasons why a lot of people don't think it's "think". Because we normally use "think" as a verb. Except when we don't. )

Never heard think, I've always used think and always will even though think is technically correct, think doesn't make sense to me and as stated in the OP the k and the C clash. I guess I'll be happily judged 🤷🏻‍♀️

Interesting. You clearly know far more than me, I’m just a slight pedant and n the internet.

id say that even though it’s an idiom, the use of “thing” doesn’t work and has no meaning. It’s not like it makes sense (or even has a new meaning) it’s just a mid-hearing.

Thank you! I can see how people are using it in a jokey way turning it around like ‘then you need to have another think’. It’s not something that comes naturally to me but each to their own. I have no idea how someone could not understand another thing coming

Mis-hearing. Not mid

Oh definitely - it's a mis-hearing AND our hard-wired idea that "think=verb" so couldn't be used in this context.
I bloody love this sort of thing though.

Thing doesn't make sense. Not in the context of 'another think coming'. Actually thinking about it that doesn't either. Another thought coming, with thought as a noun? Saying, 'think again' is better ...succinct and correct.

Same. I’m pedantic by instinct, but do actually find how language evolves quite interesting.

im more annoyed (that’s a bit strong, bemused maybe) by the attitude of “I’m wrong but I don’t care and I won’t change”

But you can have a think
have another think
you can have a think coming?

Thing.
I’ve never heard anyone say think!

This is what's bemusing me. I've never clung to a mistake once I've learned I was doing it wrong. Why are people in this thread doing that?

Oh Christ alive. The only time I ever got a mention in a Mumsnet round up was just after the LAST time this subject was raised.

the thread roared on and on with the 2 sides

one pointing out the fact that it’s THINK and the other side totally and utterly in the wrong and refusing to accept it.

Because they believe, or know, you'll be proved wrong and so will have to have another think as in rethink your position. Its often used by people who actually have the power to prevent what you think being right.
'If you think you're wearing that..'
'If you think you're coming in here in trainers..'
'If you think I'm going to pick you up at midnight...' and so forth.

Exactly. "You are wrong and will realise you are wrong, so in your future, there will be a rethink" = another think is on its way.

Think eg if you think that, you've another think coming. It's my Nana's favourite.

I can't get taxed about thing though. On the other hand, one foul swoop cannot be tolerated.

And also as a PP mentioned, thing may be wrong and people say " whats a thing? What's the first thing? But surely that's the same as think? What's a think? Surely a thought? And surely the first think was the first action therefore also potentially the first thing? Im not really into pedantry ( maybe because I'm generally on the wrong side ) but I don't see much difference in the differentiation of this one.

Is this gonna be this year's designated MN Xmas eve bunfight I wonder?

Younger people seem to love the word thing (it's not a thing, is that a thing? They're having a thing) so I suspect they probably are more likely to think it's thing

Do you never say “I’ll have a think about that”?

Yes but i have also previously been known to have a thing about something, for example using only one fork when feeding the dogs.

It may be grammatically the same I don't know, but to me I'll have a think about that and you have another think coming seems grammatically different.

I genuinely thought it was another thing coming 🤣🥲

Think, not thing.

There is another saying which annoys me.
We say 'I couldn't care less.'
Americans say 'I could care less.'
which doesn't make any sense to me.

Growing up I certainly knew what the other “thing” coming was!
it’s a good telling off, with or without a spank or punishment.