[Grammar] "I didn't think you did" or "I thought you didn't"

[Snappy]

In my understanding, "I don't think he smokes" is more idiomatic than "I think he doesn't smoke."

Is this also true in the past tense?

"I didn't think he smoked."
"I thought he didn't smoke."
Which is more often used?

 

[phrasemix]

I'd use both of those in different situations. Here's how I think of them:

Situation 1:
Based on what I know about him, he doesn't seem like a smoker.
"I didn't think he smoked."

Situation 2:
He or someone else told me that he doesn't smoke.
"I thought he didn't smoke."