the last word
81
4.4
- idiom
:
la última palabra
- Only one thing is certain: no one has yet had the last word, and this history is not over.
- get the last word
- give the last word
- the last word on the subject
But they don't like not getting the last word and you're ghosting.
- But they don't like not getting the last word and you're ghosting.
- Science can't give us the last word on that, he says.
- And the last word goes to a Jaguar from the Amazon.
- By law, Petrobras is and has the last word.
- I'll give you the last word here, but let me tell you what's coming up.
- And then third, really important, you got to get in the last word.
- They have the last word on anything concerning race, gender.
- Initially, Congress sort of appeased itself by saying we're going to have the last word.
- He's not that disciplined on that subject, Felix, as you know, I'll give you the last word.
- I was so used to being the creative authority on set and at least have the last word.
Examples
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I get to say the last word, not you.
-
If you challenge her, she will have the last word.
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So this brings up the question, is this the last word on the issue?
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I always like to have the last word in these matters.
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Science can't give us the last word on that, he says.
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That doesn't mean that he should get the last word.
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You think you have the last word, but you don't!
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They have the last word on anything concerning race, gender.
-
Linda's voice started normal, but the last word was a ragged whisper.
Fiction book (2001) -
As chairman of the faculty board, I have the last word in that matter.
Synonyms
721
3.7
A formal decision agreed on by a group after a vote
167
2.2
The last part of an event, activity, or piece of writing
55
3.3
A court judgment that ends a case and must be followed
14
4.0
The power to make the last decision in a matter
13
4.6
A final decision or ruling that ends a matter
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase directly combines 'last' (final) with 'word' (utterance), so the sense of the final opinion or decision is compositionally predictable from the constituents. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically (e.g., Spanish 'la última palabra') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the component words.
Etymology
The phrase the last word may come from the clear image of someone saying the final word and being the last person to speak at the end of a talk or argument. If you are the last to speak, you often decide how things end, so the phrase means 'the final decision' or 'final say'.