Because Arguing on Fanficrants Is a Waste of Time - a Poll

[lil_shepherd]

Over on fanficrants an argument is raging over the use of the phrase, "another think coming," as in "If he thought that, he had another think coming." Apparently, a large number of people have always believed and used "another thing coming" even if the first part of the phrase is retained.

So, a poll:

Poll Think or thing

Comments

[tamaranth]

in the 'don't get me started': free reign. Because reins are a dead metaphor.

[sidhe_woman]

God, that reign/rein makes me so cross. I had an editor try to correct my phrase 'he reined in his temper' to 'reigned in'. I explained to her that reign is what monarch do and reins are controlling/steering tools used by a horse-rider, and hence, by a lateral step, by someone controlling their temper. That was one editorial requirement I refused to accept.

[lil_shepherd]

Indeed.

Mind you, this pronunciation thing can get you. It was many years before I realised it was "tenterhooks" because where I lived, if anyone used the phrase, they said, "tenderhooks."

[blamebrampton]

And omnipotent monarchs are so 2010? A junior subeditor at my work called me in to side with her on that one this year against someone who should have known better. Young lass and I are both horsey and both ended up standing there with our elbows tucked against our sides guiding imaginary mounts over jumps insisting, 'Rein! REIN!!'

[lil_shepherd]

You only have to think for a moment about this phrase before the right word is obvious. There are idioms where it isn't...,