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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"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:
CaptainMyCaptain · 24/12/2022 16:13

It's definitely 'think'.

Autumnnewname · 24/12/2022 16:16

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.

I would have put those that use "thing" in that camp, since it's wrong

DoNotGetADog · 24/12/2022 16:18

If you think it’s “If you think that, you’ve got another thing coming,” then you’ve got another THINK coming because you’re wrong!!

I will never accept “thing” - it’s obviously wrong. You’ve had a THINK, what you’ve THOUGHT is wrong, so you’ve got to have another THINK - you’ve got another THINK coming!

Those people who have said saying “think” is like saying “rest bite” or “pacific” are really showing their ignorance.

Starburst8 · 24/12/2022 16:25

Isn't it another think? As in you have to think again.

I have heard a lot of people say thing though.

Thriwit · 24/12/2022 16:25

The thing that has surprised me the most about this thread, is all the people who somehow can’t see how “If you think that, you’ve got another thing coming!” makes sense. It makes perfect sense.
(I’m not arguing that one or the other is ‘correct’, I’m just surprised people can’t understand both.)

Mouldyfoodhelp · 24/12/2022 16:27

DoNotGetADog · 24/12/2022 16:18

If you think it’s “If you think that, you’ve got another thing coming,” then you’ve got another THINK coming because you’re wrong!!

I will never accept “thing” - it’s obviously wrong. You’ve had a THINK, what you’ve THOUGHT is wrong, so you’ve got to have another THINK - you’ve got another THINK coming!

Those people who have said saying “think” is like saying “rest bite” or “pacific” are really showing their ignorance.

But then wouldn't " if you think that, think again" be better? You could just easily make a similar argument for thing.

Scurryfunge12 · 24/12/2022 16:31

‘Thing’ makes no sense

if you THINK ___ then you’ve got another THINK coming.

Why is this a question? It can’t be any other way! 😂

DoNotGetADog · 24/12/2022 16:33

Mouldyfoodhelp · 24/12/2022 16:27

But then wouldn't " if you think that, think again" be better? You could just easily make a similar argument for thing.

Show quote history

Well, yes, you could say “if you think that, think again” - as it means exactly the same thing. That has two “thinks” in it as well.

How could you make the same argument for “thing” though? Where is the first “thing”????

DoNotGetADog · 24/12/2022 16:36

Thriwit · 24/12/2022 16:25

The thing that has surprised me the most about this thread, is all the people who somehow can’t see how “If you think that, you’ve got another thing coming!” makes sense. It makes perfect sense.
(I’m not arguing that one or the other is ‘correct’, I’m just surprised people can’t understand both.)

Well a “thing” could be anything couldn’t it? “If you think that, what is the “another thing” that is coming? A dog? A mountain? A piece of cheese?

And what was the first “thing”??

BooksAndHooks · 24/12/2022 16:45

It’s another way of saying think again so it has to be think to make sense.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 24/12/2022 16:48

DoNotGetADog · 24/12/2022 16:33

Well, yes, you could say “if you think that, think again” - as it means exactly the same thing. That has two “thinks” in it as well.

How could you make the same argument for “thing” though? Where is the first “thing”????

Show quote history

The first thing is the first thought or action.

TabithaTittlemouse · 24/12/2022 16:49

Krustykrabpizza · 24/12/2022 11:38

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

Same

Calphurnia88 · 24/12/2022 16:56

I was team thing, but now I have read this thread (and Googled the etymology of the phrase) I've switched to team think.

Do I get a prize? 😃

SinnerBoy · 24/12/2022 16:59

Yes. Please collect a Custard Cream on your way out.

😃

PuppyMonkey · 24/12/2022 17:01

Mouldyfoodhelp · 24/12/2022 16:48

The first thing is the first thought or action.

Show quote history

The first THINK in other words.

CatJumperTwat · 24/12/2022 17:01

You get an extra slice of turkey tomorrow too!

Twattergy · 24/12/2022 17:01

Stop this silliness now. It's clearly think. Mishearing think as thing doesn't mean it's right.

chumbleton · 24/12/2022 17:02

Think. And only think

trulyunruly01 · 24/12/2022 17:04

But what is the thing that is coming? And what effect will the thing have on the (for instance) ridiculous dress my 14 yr old is trying to leave in the house in?
Whereas another think might have her realise that she'll freeze to death in that glorified belt - and put some thermal trousers on.

trulyunruly01 · 24/12/2022 17:05

I could care less.
Or is it I couldn't...

Ontopofthesunset · 24/12/2022 17:08

I never understand why people are so unwilling to accept 'think' as a noun despite examples of it being given to them, and their being encouraged to have a think about the examples.

And of course people who use 'thing' have rationalised it, but there is no first thing in the saying, whereas there is obviously a first 'think', hence why 'think' is used jocularly instead of 'thought' in the second clause. And there is no common expression 'You've got a thing coming', so 'another thing' is no more intuitive than 'another think' (less intuitive, in fact, because the whole saying is about what you think and how what you think is going to change).

What would a 'thing coming' be? Going out dressed in different clothes to those your mother saw you in would not be a thing that had come to you.

loveandwarmth · 24/12/2022 17:16

I never knew it was meant to be 'think!' I've always said and heard 'thing!' I find it very interesting though!

Mouldyfoodhelp · 24/12/2022 17:18

Ontopofthesunset · 24/12/2022 17:08

I never understand why people are so unwilling to accept 'think' as a noun despite examples of it being given to them, and their being encouraged to have a think about the examples.

And of course people who use 'thing' have rationalised it, but there is no first thing in the saying, whereas there is obviously a first 'think', hence why 'think' is used jocularly instead of 'thought' in the second clause. And there is no common expression 'You've got a thing coming', so 'another thing' is no more intuitive than 'another think' (less intuitive, in fact, because the whole saying is about what you think and how what you think is going to change).

What would a 'thing coming' be? Going out dressed in different clothes to those your mother saw you in would not be a thing that had come to you.

you have a think coming is intuitive to you? 🤔

Ontopofthesunset · 24/12/2022 17:23

'Think' is more intuitive than 'thing' because no 'thing' has been mentioned in the first clause, whereas the whole point of the saying is about what you 'think' and how you are about to think something different. If the first clause was "If that's the thing you thought was coming...' maybe 'thing' would make sense. But no 'thing' is mentioned at all.

FloydPepper · 24/12/2022 17:30

Calphurnia88 · 24/12/2022 16:56

I was team thing, but now I have read this thread (and Googled the etymology of the phrase) I've switched to team think.

Do I get a prize? 😃

They should make stickers saying “I changed my mind based on learning new facts” 😀