Have the last laugh
Meaning
To ultimately succeed or be proven right, especially after others initially doubted or ridiculed one.
Origin
The satisfaction of ultimate triumph, often after initial ridicule or doubt, has been a human theme for centuries. While the exact phrase "have the last laugh" solidified in English by the late 17th century, its sentiment echoes much older proverbs. Shakespeare, in Othello (1603), captured the essence when he wrote, "He that laughs last, laughs longest." This notion—that the true measure of success comes at the end, not the beginning—evolved to describe the sweet vindication of a final, triumphant chuckle over those who once scoffed, embodying the dramatic reversal of fortune.
Examples
- After everyone mocked her small business idea, she invested wisely and had the last laugh when her company became a huge success.
- The underdog team was expected to lose, but their stunning victory in the championship game allowed them to have the last laugh.