have the final say

have the final say

1. To say the final words in an argument or discussion, especially ones that decisively or conclusively end it. The whole meeting just descended into chaos as everyone tried to have the final say. David is so smug and always has to have the final say in every debate.
2. To have the authority to decide how something ultimately happens or is done. As the editor in chief, I have the final say on the layout design for every issue.
See also: final, have, say
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • have the final word
  • have the last say
  • the final say
  • the final word
  • your/the last/final word
  • get in the last word
  • last word, to have the
  • have the last word
  • last word, the
  • the last word
References in periodicals archive
If he stays, Benitez will have the final say on transfers and the final say on targets but whether the current board put names his way remains to be seen.
Budget restraints hold back Rafa's bid for progress; contract uncertainty adding to headache
Under Maryland law, governors have the final say in whether an inmate will be paroled.
Delegates weigh bill extending lifers' parole eligibility
Phil Davies - leader of Wirral council and chair of the Combined Authority for the Liverpool city region which will have the final say on the increase - said it had a "disproportionate" effect on people in Wirral.
Since April, the tunnels have become assets of the newly-created Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - which will have the final say on tolls - although the tunnels are still operated on a day-to-day basis by Merseytravel.
ANGER OVER PS1.80 TUNNEL FEE HIKE; MPs urge Merseytravel to 'have a re-think'
It came down to the fact he brought Kevin Keegan back to Newcastle and then undermined him, the wrong people had too much power and Keegan didn't have the final say on who was signed and sold.
SPEAKING WITH THE ENEMY
Just one in seven thinks that parishioners should have the final say over all aspects of parish finances, but only 3 percent say that parishioners should have no role--all parish financial decisions should be made independently by the priest (See figure 2).
Regardless of their level of commitment to the church, just under two-thirds say that parishioners should have input in determining the budget and one in seven say that parishioners should have the final say. Registered parishioners feel the same way as Catholics who are not registered in a parish; regular attenders are no different from infrequent attenders; men and women are in agreement on this item; and Hispanics and non-Hispanics show no difference, either.
Older Catholics, those who have a memory of the church before Vatican II, are more likely than younger, post-Vatican II Catholics to feel that parishioners should have the final say over all aspects of parish finances.
Lay Catholics want input in financial decisions