You better do something again, only what?

Factual Questions
1

I think this may have been discussed before but I don’t remember what the answer was. If anybody can find a link to that thread please link away.

The idiom “If you think [something disagreeable], you’ve got another something coming.” So, what have you got coming? Another thing or another think? I’ve always said “thing” but I’ve read both "thing’ and “think”. “Think” gives the idiom a nice symmetry but Judas Priest begs to differ.

Does anyone know which word was used first in the phrase? Which word is used more often?

2

It’s supposed to be “think”–as in “think again”. If you think about it, “thing” makes no sense in that context.

3

Judas Priest
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
You’ve Got Another Think Comin’

One life I’m gonna live it up
I’m takin’ flight said I’ll never get enough.
Stand tall I’m young and kinda proud
I’m on top as long as the music’s loud.

If you think I’ll sit around as the world goes by
You’re thinkin’ like a fool ‘cause it’s a case of do or die.
Out there is a fortune waitin’ to be had
If you think I’ll let it go you’re mad
You’ve got another think comin’.

That’s right here’s where the talkin’ ends
Well listen this night there’ll be some action spent.
Drive hard I’m callin’ all the shots
I got an ace card comin’ down on the rocks.

If you think I’ll sit around while you chip away my brain
Listen I ain’t foolin’ and you’d better think again.
Out there is a fortune waitin’ to be had
If you think I’ll let it go you’re mad
You’ve got another think comin’.

In this world we’re livin’ in we have our share of sorrow
Answer now is don’t give in aim for a new tomorrow.

Oh so hot no time to take a rest yeah
Act tough ain’t room for second best.
Real strong got me some security
Hey I’m a big smash I’m goin’ for infinity yeah.

4

Lyrics from the Official Judas Priest site The name of the song is You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.

Q.E.D, looking for sense in an idiom is like trying to have your cake and eat it too. However “another thing coming” makes perfect sense. If you think this is going to happen you are wrong-- another thing is coming.

PhuQan G Nyus, putting in full lyrics is frowned upon.

5

I hadn’t thought of it that way. I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense. In any case, this isn’t really an example of idiom, which is:

according to dictionary.com. Anyway, enough nitpicking. I’ve always heard the expression as “…another think coming.” and I believe that is what the expression is meant to be. Google is not my friend today, however. I’ll keep looking.

6

Q.E.D. is right; Judas Priest is wrong. The idiom is “another think coming.”

7

Jeez, Q.E.D., that’s what I get for sticking up for you! But I’d say that the use of “think” as a noun in this expression certainly is idiomatic.

8

From a work by H. L. Mencken in 1921:

9

I certainly hope people aren’t going to take their idiomatic cues from Judas Priest. I’ll just add that on my side of the Atlantic (the eastern side, near the French), I have never come across “another thing coming” - it’s always “another think coming”. I’ve only ever seen “thing” on the internet.

The whole point of the saying is that it’s a humorous nonstandard use of “think” as a noun. Not that it’s all that nonstandard though - consider “I suggest you go and have a think about it”.

The Collins English Dictionary lists the phrase, under “think”:

Quite an appropriate definition for those that favour “thing”. :wink:

10

Funny, I’ve never heard “another think coming” except here. I’ve always heard “another thing coming.”