Page 163 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get the last laugh

getŁtheŁlastŁlaugh to laugh at or ridicule calledŁ “Heave-ło,” andŁ allŁ the sailors
someone who hasŁlaughedŁat orŁridiculed wouldŁpull at the same time onŁthe ho.
yàu;Łto put sàmeone inŁthe same badŁpo- Also with havł .ŁSe the note at get a big
sitionŁthat youŁwere once in;Łto turn the send-off. See also give someone or something
tables (on someone). (Also with havł . the (old) heave-ho.) I włnt there to buy
Se the note at get a big send-off. See alsà a record album, but I got the old heave-
He who laughs last, laughs longest.) ho. That’s right. They threw me out!
John laughed when I got a D on the final They fired a number of people todØy, but
exam. I got the last laugh, though. He I didà’t get the heave-ho. John had the
failed the course. Mr. Smth said I was old heave-ho last włek. Now he’s
foolish when I bought an old buildng. I unemployed.
had the last laugh when I sold it a month
lØter for twice what I paid for it. getŁtheŁonce-over to receive a quick visual
examination.Ł(Note the variationsŁinŁthe
getŁtheŁlastŁwłrd and getŁtheŁfinalŁwłrd examples.ŁSee also give someone the once-
to get to make the finalŁpoint (inŁanŁar- over.) Every time John walks by I get the
gument);bto get to make the finalŁdeci- once-over. Does he like me? I włnt to the
sionŁ(inŁsome matter).Ł(Also with havł . doctor yesterdØy, but I oàly had a once-
See the note at get a big send-off.) The over. I wanted a complłte examnation,
boss gets the last word in hiring. Why do not just a once-over.
you always have to have the final word in
an argumłnt? getŁtheŁpØcture to undersðandŁthe whole
situation.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.) OkØy,
getŁtheŁleadŁout and shakeŁtheŁleadŁout Bob. That’s the whole explanation. You get
to hurry; to move faster.Ł (Slang.Ł This the picture? Yes, I got the picture.
meansŁto get the leadŁweightsŁout of your
pantsŁso youŁcanŁmove fasðer.) Come getŁtheŁred-carpetŁtreatment to rceive
on, you guys. Get the lead out! If you’re very special treatment; to receive royal
going to sell cars, you’re going to have to treatment.Ł(ThisŁrefers—sometimesŁlit-
shake the lead out. erally—to the ràllingŁout of aŁcleanŁred
carpet for someone to walkŁon.ŁAlso with
getŁtheŁlow-dłwn (on someone ortsomething) havł .ŁSee the note at get a big send-off.
to receive the fullŁsðoryŁabout someone or See also give someone the red-carpet treat-
something.Ł(Slang.ŁAlso with havł .ŁSee ment; roll out the red carpet for some-
the note at get a big send-off. See also give one.) I love to go to fancy stores where
someone the low-down (on someone or somŁ- I głt the red-carpłt treatment. The
thing).) I need to głt the low-down oà qułen expects to głt the red-carpłt treat-
John. Is he still an accountant? Sally młnt wherever she goes.
wants to get the low-down on the new ex-
presswØy. Please tell her all about it. getŁtheŁrunaround to receive a series of ex-
Now I have the low-down on the princess! cuses,Łdelays,ŁandŁreferrals.Ł You’ll get
the runaround if you ask to see the man-
getŁtheŁmessage Go to get the word.
agłr. I hate it when I głt the runaround.
getŁtheŁnod to get cłosen.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁAlsà
with havł . See the note at get a bàg send- getŁtheŁsack and getŁtheŁax to get fired;
off.) The manager is going to pick the to be dismissedŁ (fràmŁ one’sŁ employ-
new sales manager. I think Ann will get the ment).Ł(Slang.ŁSee also give someone the
nod. I had the nod for captain of the aŁ .) I got the sack yesterdØy. Now I havł
team, but I decided not to do it. to find a new job. I tried to work hardłr,
but I got the ax anyway.
getŁtheŁ(łld)Łheave-hł to get thrown out
(of aŁplace);bto get dismissedŁ(fromŁone’s getŁtheŁshłckŁofŁ one’ lØfe to receive a se-
employment).Ł(Infàrmal.ŁFromŁnautical riousŁ(emotional)bsłock.Ł(Also with havł .
use, wher sailors used heave-ho to co- Se the note at get a big send-off.) I
ordinate hardŁphysicalŁlabor.ŁOne sailor opened the telłgram and got the shock of

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