# "faisez bien gaffe parce que moi j'ai mon super gilet jaune" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703 "2018-12-06T19:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/1 "2018-12-06T19:42:23Z")
Anyone care to translate this bumper sticker I saw? “faisez bien gaffe parce que moi j’ai mon super gilet jaune” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/2 "2018-12-06T19:48:42Z")
Google Translate gives “be careful because I have my super yellow vest”. Referencing the current fuel tax protests in France. Or the fact that French law requires motorists to carry a yellow vest in case of breakdown. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/3 "2018-12-06T19:50:56Z")
_Be careful, because I have my super yellow vest._ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/4 "2018-12-06T19:54:32Z")
I suspect that a better translation would be “yellow overvest”, not “super yellow vest”. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/5 "2018-12-06T22:17:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I suspect that a better translation would be “yellow overvest”, not “super yellow vest”. No since it misses Super. Which can be super, or excellent or something like that. Just yellow vest is missing the funny part. > [@bordelond](#): > > _Be careful, because I have my super yellow vest._ Be very careful. ETA Actually for the English, I think it is better “Really Watch out, I have my super yellow vest.” that is better. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/6 "2018-12-06T22:25:24Z")
Yes, what **Ramira** said, both about “super” and about “very”. It’s “_Be very careful, because I have my super yellow vest._” ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/7 "2018-12-06T22:28:47Z")
Super is the part that makes it funny. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/8 "2018-12-06T23:00:34Z")
Yes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/9 "2018-12-06T23:17:59Z")
It’s well known that a yellow vest makes the wearer invulnerable. What extra properties a ‘super’ YV would have is open to speculation ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/10 "2018-12-07T02:59:04Z")
“faisez bien gaffe parce que moi j’ai mon super gilet jaune” Make good watch out; for what me I have my super vest yellow… (“My hovercraft is full of _eels_”) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/11 "2018-12-07T03:31:54Z")
I would like that sticker for my car. I could raise a few eyebrows in these here parts. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/12 "2018-12-07T04:15:51Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > It’s “_Be very careful, because I have my super yellow vest._” It sounds even better if you do it in an [Elmer Fudd voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzQ9kxs6RL8). _“Be vewy caweful because I have my supeh yewwow vest. Heh heh heh heh.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/13 "2018-12-07T10:53:32Z")
Ah, also, _faisez_ in the imperative is incorrect, it should be _faites_. A child would make that mistake, or somebody just learning French. Or Elmer Fudd. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/14 "2018-12-07T11:39:42Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Ah, also, _faisez_ in the imperative is incorrect, it should be _faites_. A child would make that mistake, or somebody just learning French. Or Elmer Fudd. Some poorly educated people could too. Not common, but possible. A google search returns results. Some parodies, but others genuine posts with this grammar mistake. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/15 "2018-12-07T14:31:41Z")
Tish! That’s French! _kiss, kiss, kiss_ ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/16 "2018-12-07T15:44:18Z")
The literal translation is Make good mistake, because I have my super yellow vest. Make mistake is a french expression meaning Beware or Watch out. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/17 "2018-12-07T16:00:48Z")
I take it that it’s similar to military jokes about mandatory reflective PT belts? [![](https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/022/569/for_gallery_v2/GeorgeWashingtonReflectiveBelt.jpg?1423936267&imgrefurl=https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-significance-of-a-reflective-pt-belt-is-it-a-sign-of-risk-aversion-who-really-wore-these-in-a-combat-zone&docid=lPs0xbvLY_15CM&tbnid=NMnXoghM88AZ5M:&vet=1&w=727&h=542&hl=en-us&source=sh/x/im) ](https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/022/569/for_gallery_v2/GeorgeWashingtonReflectiveBelt.jpg?1423936267&imgrefurl=https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-significance-of-a-reflective-pt-belt-is-it-a-sign-of-risk-aversion-who-really-wore-these-in-a-combat-zone&docid=lPs0xbvLY_15CM&tbnid=NMnXoghM88AZ5M:&vet=1&w=727&h=542&hl=en-us&source=sh/x/im) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/18 "2018-12-07T16:04:05Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Make mistake is a french expression meaning Beware or Watch out. Tangent: I understand idiomatic constructions can go off in all kinds of directions … but I am curious about the origins of the French idiom _faire gaffe à_. Is it perhaps a truncation of a once-longer expression? Or is it something akin to “break a leg” in theater? Or something else altogether? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/19 "2018-12-07T18:26:01Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Ah, also, _faisez_ in the imperative is incorrect, it should be _faites_. A child would make that mistake, or somebody just learning French. Or Elmer Fudd. _Faisez_ does not seem to appear in _any_ conjugation. Could this be idiomatic or slang? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703/20 "2018-12-07T18:33:06Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > _Faisez_ does not seem to appear in _any_ conjugation. Could this be idiomatic or slang? I was wondering if it was colloquial plural version of imperative- as in “you all watch out!”. Form my rudimentary French, don’t a lot o plural (“Vous” rather than “tu”) verb forms end in “-ez”? Or certainly a lot of imperatives do? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faisez-bien-gaffe-parce-que-moi-jai-mon-super-gilet-jaune/825703.md?page=2)