Nous avons bien fait is a common French phrase used to say that a past action was the right one. It shows up after decisions, choices and actions of all kinds, from small everyday matters to major life choices. This article looks at what the phrase means and how it is used.

Meaning

Literally, nous avons bien fait translates as “we have done well.” Figuratively, it means “we did well,” “we were right to do that” or “we did the right thing.” It is used to confirm, in hindsight, that a past decision or action was correct or wise.

The phrase is most often followed by de plus a verb in the infinitive, to say exactly what was done well.

• Nous avons bien fait de partir tôt. – “We were right to leave early.”
• Nous avons bien fait d’attendre. – “We were right to wait.”

It can also stand alone, without naming the action, when the action is already clear from context.

• On a vendu la voiture avant qu’elle ne tombe en panne. Nous avons bien fait. – “We sold the car before it broke down. We did the right thing.”

Usage examples

• Finalement, nous avons bien fait de refuser cette offre. – “In the end, we were right to turn down that offer.”
• Ils nous ont remerciés, alors nous avons bien fait de les prévenir. – “They thanked us, so we were right to warn them.”
• Je crois que nous avons bien fait. – “I think we did the right thing.”
• Nous avons bien fait d’annuler le voyage, vu la météo. – “We were right to cancel the trip, given the weather.”
• Nous avons bien fait de garder une copie du contrat. – “We were right to keep a copy of the contract.”
• Nous avons bien fait de lui poser la question directement. – “We were right to ask him the question directly.”
• Nous avons bien fait de nous méfier. – “We were right to be wary.”
• Vu les résultats, nous avons bien fait d’investir. – “Given the results, we were right to invest.”

The phrase also appears often as a question, when someone is checking whether a decision was sound.

• Avons-nous bien fait de le laisser partir seul? – “Were we right to let him leave alone?”
• Est-ce que nous avons bien fait d’accepter? – “Did we do the right thing by accepting?”

Synonyms and alternative expressions

The following phrases can replace or resemble nous avons bien fait, depending on context and formality.

• c’était la bonne décision – “that was the right decision”
• nous avons eu raison de – “we were right to,” a slightly more formal alternative, also followed by de plus an infinitive
• nous avons pris la bonne décision – “we made the right decision”
• on a bien agi – “we acted well” or “we did the right thing,” a more casual version using on instead of nous
• on a eu du nez – “we had good instinct,” an informal phrase used when a decision turned out well through good judgement or luck

Summary

• Nous avons bien fait means “we were right to do that” or “we did the right thing.”
• Its literal translation is “we have done well.”
• It is usually followed by de plus an infinitive to state the action that was correct, but it can also stand alone.
• It can be turned into a question to check whether a decision was sound.
• Common alternatives include nous avons eu raison de, c’était la bonne décision and on a bien agi.