last laugh
Victory after setbacks
The last laugh belongs to whoever ultimately prevails after being doubted, mocked, or dismissed.
Someone who has the last laugh succeeds despite others' skepticism: Critics panned the film, but it grossed a billion dollars—the director had the last laugh.
The phrase implies vindication through outcome rather than argument.
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- sweet revengeGratifying retaliation
- vindicationClearance of blame
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
victory · payback · I told you so · gloating · smirk · satisfaction · living well · slow burn · irony · bitter · sweet · winner · loser · underdog · tables turned · against all odds · poetic justice · final
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
- firstsfirst, initial, beginning, start, opening
- laughtergiggling, chuckling, snickering, giggles, chortling
- ironic twiststwist of fate, poetic justice, dramatic irony, situational irony, tragic irony
last laughfalse dawn
Misleading pre-sunrise brightness
hollow victory · flash in the pan · head start · beginner's luck · early bloom
last laughcomeuppance
Deserved punishment or rebuke
bitter end · just deserts · eating crow · final reckoning · humbling
last, laugh, lasts, lasted, lasting, lastly, laughs, laughed, laughing