From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhave the last laughhave the last laughto finally be successful, win an argument etc, after other people have earlier criticized you, defeated you etc Men make jokes about women drivers, but women have the last laugh – their insurance rates are cheaper. → laugh
Examples from the Corpus
have the last laugh• Yet women drivers have the last laugh.• Boy did he have the last laugh.• Holding a rolling pin and determined to have the last laugh. 