07:03 Jan 25 

Sorry Tony but I don't see much equivocation as to the meaning and use of "watch it" regardless on how inappropriate "fais gaffe" might be.

06:58 Jan 25 

I have to say I don't agree with your interpretation of "Watch it (or else)!" — yes, it could be interpreted that way, depending on tone of voice, circumstances etc.; but that's by no means the only way to interpret it, and in the context of a grammar book, I think it's perfectly normal to understand it very much in the same vein as 'Watch out!' — "Watch it, here's a linguistic trap for you!" In this sense, it certainly does have the idea of « fais gaffe ! », but as others have said, I don't feel the register would fit in the specific context given here.

06:52 Jan 25 

OK, so maybe one wouldn't use "fais gaffe" under any circumstances in a grammar book, ever, ever, ever. However, "watch it!" is something one says to a friend since it implies "or else" as opposed to "watch out!" which is just "attantion!"

16:07 Jan 24 

Je me réfère naturellement à "Fais gaffe"

16:05 Jan 24 

Pas de tutoiement dans un livre de grammaire et expression familière déplacée.

15:51 Jan 24 

Je suis entièrement d'accord avec Tony !
Réponse à Emiledgar : je ne sais pas si je suis une experte mais j'enseigne le fr. et principalement la grammaire depuis longtemps aux adultes comme aux enfants. Je trouve souvent dans mes livres de grammaires les formules suivantes : (faites) attention...à ce qui suit...; lisez bien/regardez bien....ce qui suit...; remarquez que... mais on ne trouvera jamais la formule "fais/faites gaffe" qui je le répète est trop familière pour être utilisée dans un livre pédagogique.
@ Gilbertlu : comme le souligne Tony, un livre de grammaire se doit avant tout d'être clair et consistant (même s'il s'adresse aux enfants) et contient donc de nombreuses répétitions. Ce n'est pas un livre de contes, il n'est pas nécessaire de "broder".
BONNE CHANCE !

17:18 Jan 23 

I agree with Tony

16:23 Jan 23 

...why shy away from repeating it in your translation?

As is quite common in this sort of text, this would appear to be some kind of standard warning, and as such, I'd have thought it was important to keep it consistent in the translation too.