Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

famous-last-words

noun

ˈfeɪ.məs lɑːst wɜːrdz

Definition

A phrase typically used to indicate that someone said something that turned out to be untrue or ironic, especially if their statement was confident and definitive.

Examples

“I’ll never get caught!” – famous last words of a prize fighter before losing the match.
“This route is the fastest!” – her famous last words before getting stuck in traffic for hours.
“I’ll handle this myself.” – famous last words of someone who underestimated the challenge.

Meaning

The term is often used humorously or sarcastically to point out that someone made a bold statement just before a situation changed unexpectedly, leading to their downfall or embarrassment.