the last laugh

the last laugh

A victory or vindication achieved in the face of someone's doubt, derision, or mockery. After so many people dismissed her dream of becoming an actress, the global superstar has truly had the last laugh. Everyone at my old job laughed at me for pursuing a career in making games for mobile phones. But I had the last laugh, as I made nearly $4.5 million off my very first game.

See also: last, laugh

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*last laugh (on someone)

Fig. laughter or ridicule at someone who has laughed at or ridiculed you. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) John laughed when I got a D on the final exam. I got the last laugh, though. He failed the course. Mr. Smith said I was foolish when I bought an old building. I had the last laugh when I sold it a month later for twice what I paid for it.

See also: last, laugh

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.