Idiom
down to the wire
Meanings
Happening or being decided at the last possible moment; extremely close in time or result.
With very little time left before a deadline, causing urgency and pressure to finish.
Definition
Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
“Down to the wire” means there is almost no time left and the outcome or completion will happen at the very end. It is often used for close competitions, negotiations, or deadlines. The phrase emphasizes pressure, suspense, and a narrow time margin.
Examples
- The election came down to the wire on Tuesday night.
- We finished the project down to the wire, but we got it submitted.
- The contract talks went down to the wire before they reached a deal.
- It was down to the wire, and then her team scored in the final seconds.
Common mistake
Learners often use the wrong preposition (e.g., “to the wires”) instead of the fixed phrase “down to the wire.”
More at B2 level
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- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
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