What does "Have the last laugh" mean?

To ultimately succeed after initial setbacks or mockery. To end up successful or vindicated after others doubted you or mocked you.

How do you use "Have the last laugh" in a sentence?

They mocked his idea, but he had the last laugh. Critics dismissed her, but she had the last laugh. We'll have the last laugh when this works.

Have the last laugh

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To ultimately succeed after initial setbacks or mockery.

在最初遭受挫折或嘲笑后最终获得成功。

Triunfar finalmente después de reveses o burlas iniciales.

最初は挫折や嘲笑を受けても、最終的に成功すること。

처음에는 좌절이나 조롱을 받았지만 최종적으로 성공하다.

To end up successful or vindicated after others doubted you or mocked you.

在别人怀疑或嘲笑你之后，最终成功或被证明是对的。

Acabar teniendo éxito o siendo reivindicado después de que otros dudaran de ti o se burlaran.

他人に疑われたり馬鹿にされた後に、最終的に成功したり正しさが証明されること。

다른 사람들이 의심하거나 조롱한 후에 결국 성공하거나 정당함이 입증되는 것.

Literal meaning: Be the one laughing at the end

Examples

They mocked his idea, but he had the last laugh.
他们嘲笑他的想法，但笑到最后的是他
Se burlaron de su idea, pero él se rió el último
彼らは彼のアイデアを馬鹿にしたが、最後に笑ったのは彼だった
그들은 그의 아이디어를 비웃었지만, 최후에 웃은 것은 그였다.
Critics dismissed her, but she had the last laugh.
评论家们不屑一顾，但她笑到了最后
Los críticos la desestimaron, pero ella se rió la última
批評家たちは彼女を軽視したが、最後に笑ったのは彼女だった
비평가들은 그녀를 무시했지만, 최후에 웃은 것은 그녀였다.
We'll have the last laugh when this works.
等这事成了，笑到最后的会是我们
Nos reiremos los últimos cuando esto funcione
これがうまくいけば、最後に笑うのは私たちだ
이것이 성공하면 최후에 웃는 건 우리다.

Pronunciation

/hæv ðə lɑːst lɑːf/

Usage Guide

Context: vindication, ultimate success, proving doubters wrong

Tone: triumphant, satisfied

✓ Do Say

He had the last laugh.
他笑到了最后
Él se rió el último
最後に笑ったのは彼だった
최후의 승자는 그였어
We'll have the last laugh.
我们会笑到最后
Nos reiremos los últimos
最後に笑うのは私たちだ
최후에 웃는 건 우리야
Who had the last laugh?
谁笑到了最后？
¿Quién se rió el último?
最後に笑ったのは誰？
누가 최후에 웃었을까?

✗ Don't Say

Was ultimately vindicated
Was ultimately vindicated（最终被证明是对的）
Was ultimately vindicated（Fue reivindicado finalmente）
Was ultimately vindicated（最終的に正当性が認められた）
Was ultimately vindicated (결국 정당성을 인정받았다)
Proved them wrong
Proved them wrong（证明他们错了）
Proved them wrong（Les demostró que estaban equivocados）
Proved them wrong（彼らが間違っていたことを証明した）
Proved them wrong (그들이 틀렸음을 증명했다)

Common Mistakes

Very common expression
Implies previous doubt or mockery

Origin & History

From laughter being the final outcome—the winner laughs last.

Etymology: English idiom

First recorded: 16th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common expression; Underdog stories

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Have the last laughHad the last laughGet the last laugh