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

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There's very little like this that bothers me, but this? Really bothers me. I've had betas try to correct it to "you've got another thing coming" so often that I no longer use it in my fiction. Drives me wild.

Huh. Who knew I felt that strongly?

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, very little gets my back up like people trying to correct me when I'm already right and they're wrong. The presumption! When it's anything to do with grammar I take it as a sign that the sentence was unclear, since it shouldn't be leaving people confused, even if their confusion stems from inadequate grasp of the particulars of language. But there's really nothing you can do with an expression like that except, I suppose, avoid it or be prepared to argue about it. :/

I hope if you ever really want to use it you'll be prepared to fight for truth and justice, though!