Another think coming

[cimorene]

Listen, people.

It's not "If you think ___, you've got another thing coming". It's "If you think __, you've got another think coming." Get it? See how that works? The word "think" appears in both places! As if to suggest that the approaching think is going to replace the previous think which was in error! See how it even (gasp!) makes sense that way, whereas a "thing" coming in that context is so meaningless as to be completely baffling? [*]

Comments

[cimness.livejournal.com]

We've got some vehement Australian data points going the other way, so I take it you've definitely encountered it that way? ;)

[claire.livejournal.com]

I can't remember encountering it as 'thing' at all when I was a kid (70s and early 80s). Although that doesn't mean I didn't, just that I don't remember. Later on I heard it as 'thing', but I don't pay much attention because the word 'thing' doesn't make sense to me in that phrase.