"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.

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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.

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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

Thing totally makes sense. If you do as you're planning, your plans will go haywire and you'll have to do it differently, hence another 'thing'.

I have never in my life heard think.

It doesn’t make sense. Loads have explained why. Better than I can.

this is just a fact, you can accept it, or deny it (have your own truth?)

It makes perfect sense, as does think. You can deny that all you like, but that just makes you ignorant.

It’s how language develops. Things are misheard, parts of expressions are dropped, meanings change. Stop getting caught up with ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and go read a book on etymology. It’s really interesting. If a language stops evolving it does.

I've always known it to be think. But I accept that other people say thing.

It neither makes sense or makes me ignorant to say so.

There is a first think. It is the start of the saying. Another think is coming. There is no first thing so there is no second thing.

I can’t step away from this thread, it’s like a car crash - seeing people who are wrong calling the right ones ignorant.

I cannot believe what I’m reading. In what universe does ‘’if you think that, you’ve got another THING coming make any sense??

What THING?? 🙄🙄

If you think Santa is going to be bringing you presents you've got another thing coming.

The other "thing" being no Santa no presents 🫣

Think doesn't make sense to me 😬

Thing, never heard the think option previously.

There is a first think. It is the start of the saying. Another think is coming. There is no first thing so there is no second thing.

^^Absolutely this! In all my 63 years, I have NEVER head anyone say 'thing'. My father was born in 1914 and even he said to me when I was teen... If you think you are going out in that outfit, you've another think coming my girl'.

It’s amazing

The other "thing" being no Santa no presents 🫣
Nope. You have another think owing. The rethink being you will have to readjust your expectations and realise he's not coming.

Yeh it’s not that hard to get

It’s obviously think, it just means, ‘’if you think that, you’re going to be thinking again’’ hence, there’s another ‘’think’’ coming.

thing doesn’t make sense because there was a ‘’thing’’ mentioned in the first place.

I don’t understand how it doesn’t make sense to people, it’s simple. 😂

There was not a ‘’thing’’ mentioned in the first place that should say!

Google “why facts don’t change minds”

Nobody has said that mis-hearing it makes it correct. People have explained the reason WHY the mistake is made.

Another?
another as there is a first
a first think, so there’s another one coming

you can’t have another thing without a first thing
there is no first thing

I think they make about as much sense as each other

You've got another think coming just doesn't read well, I get the logic but I'd rather just say if you think, that you better think again 🤣

Wow excellent comma placement 🥲

Literally (yes) loads have said they think the mishearing is the correct version. They’ve explained why it’s right, they’ve said they don’t care it’s wrong

Just musing again on why it's such a common mistake (for those at the back, "thing" is used more often than "think" despite not being correct. I'm going to add a fourth reason.
The first is the mis-hearing of the /k/ as /g/
The second is the fact that we're dealing with idiomatic language.
The third is the misconception that "think" isn't a noun.
The fourth is the assumed, but rarely said "if you think that..." If that were the beginning of the idiom, then I doubt "thing" would be so common, because it would then be obvious that what is coming is another "think".

So, perfect storm really. Few other mistakes are as common, maybe because there aren't so many reasons for making them.

Same. It's wild

I think the last point is a good one. You say the whole thing, it’s obvious. If you don’t (and you don’t really know what the first bit is) then “thing” might feel ok.