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Reader question: Please explain this sentence: “Sorry Tony but thanks to you, Tennie got the last laugh on you and on us.” My comments: Tony and Tennie are opponents. Tony made a mistake. He did something stupid, and thus embarrassed himself and “us” (his supporters) in front of Tennie and his supporters. And, the thing is, the mistake Tony made is irreparable. That’s what “last laugh” implies here. “Last laugh” suggests that Tennie has won something over Tony permanently. Tony can not get it back. It’s like they’ve been playing a ping pong match, with the first to win 11 points winning the match. During the course of the match, Tony may have led the game 5-3. Tennie then rallied to take a 7-6 lead. Then Tony ran off 3 points in a roll to take the lead one more time, 9-7. But a series of errors by Tony proved costly as Tennie clinched the match 11-9. During the seesaw match, Tony’s supporters laughed and cheered whenever Tony took the lead. But the final victory belonged to Tennie and his team. There’s nothing Tony and his team can do now. The game is over. In other words, Tennie has the last laugh on Tony. Tennie may have been criticized and laughed at before and during the match, but he has the final word now. He’s the winner. And therefore, he gets the last laugh, which is lasting. That’s what “last laugh” the idiom means. It means final victory after some initial setback, defeat or criticism. | 
