last laugh

Related to last laugh: have 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.

*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.
See also:
  • the last laugh
  • cover
  • grab (someone or something) by the throat
  • grab someone by the throat
  • grab someone/something by the throat
  • get someone's dander up, to
  • help (someone) along
  • help along
  • die on
  • die on someone
References in periodicals archive
Although Middleton had the last laugh, she didn't like the "Waity Katie" nickname.
There are other stories in the Bible that show that God has the last laugh. Remember the story in the Book of Exodus when Moses demanded that the Egyptian Pharaoh let the Lord's people (the Hebrews) leave Egypt?
"It's ironic, because at the time Wells was buying these buildings people thought they were paying hefty prices, but they will get the last laugh," Bernhaut added.
So the next Sunday at Mass, instead of hymns Intrabartolo played his favorite Madonna music: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," "Oh Father," and "Vogue." Of course he was fired, but now Intrabartolo is having the last laugh.
But it may be the mosquitoes that are having the last laugh. According to a Dateline NBC investigation team, out of 10,000 carcasses recovered--one night's haul--only eight were mosquitoes.
But as Decasia illustrates, Malevich gets the last laugh: All film, if left to its own devices, will eventually become cinema as such.
Roberts had the last laugh though as his team eased on to complete a 4-0 victory to earn a place in the final against Blackburn Rovers.
The people of the Middle Ages understood this and decided to have the last laugh on evil.
FORMER Wigan starlet Greg Strong had the last laugh on his former club as Stoke completed a remarkable comeback to keep their play-off hopes alive with a dramatic victory.
Onlookers guffawed at Prichard's stunt, but she may have the last laugh.
Norman Solomon is coauthor of Wizards of Media Oz: Behind the Curtain of Mainstream News and author of The Trouble with Dilbert: How Corporate Culture Gets the Last Laugh.
But Mona Lisa will always have the last laugh, or, at least, the last inscrutable smirk.
The Boro boss, of course, had the last laugh andcelebrated the 3-2 winby running over to the travelling supporters after the match.
STEVE SMITH had the last laugh in Adelaide after making a mockery of those questioning his decisionmaking during the second Test.
IRadio Sheffield Breakfast presenter and well-known comedian Toby Foster presents three upcoming comedians in his Last Laugh Comedy Club at the end of the month at The Civic in Barnsley - 'best impersonator ever' Sol Bernstein, Peter Brush the BBC New Comedy Award Finalist 2013 and 'refreshingly honest' Gerry K.