Has DH got another think coming or have I got another thing coming???

[NotMyRealName2015]

I’ll clarify

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.
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.'

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

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

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.

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

Think.

Gavel.

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.

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

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

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 ...

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?

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

It's think! You're all mad!

Definitely "think". "Thing" makes no sense in that context

Absolutely mind-blown me and DP were both certain it was thing! How have I never been time this?!

I've never used think ... before today GreenPotato - as I say I could have sworn it was thing but I can see and accept from this thread what I that I've been using the wrong word all this time

"I always thought the thing was a thump or similar"

And that's the problem. People have heard the phrase wrongly and are making up justifications for it. Doesn't make it acceptable..

If 'pacific' to mean specific makes into the OED in 30 years time I'll hold everyone in Oxford hostage.

It's 'think'. 'Thing' is incorrect but going by this thread it has seeped into common usage.

It's thing!!

Language doesn't evolve because people don't pronounce words properly

No, because I don't like "pacific" - just as once I was reluctant to use "hopefully". Same goes for mischievIous hate it hate it. But I can understand that the people who are "wrong" and whose usage winds me up may eventually win the day, just by force of numbers.

I'm now wondering about the regional issue as I'm from the north. No one ever said "think" where I grew up.

One of my DM'S favourite phrases when I was growing up. It's think.

I agree clam. I'm scratching my head that people are proud of using words wrongly. It's puzzling.

It's like saying 'I'm alright Zac' or 'proof of the pudding is in the sniffing'

Just wrong.

RTFT Blue

OF COURSE it's 'think'.

That's it. Next!