Down to the Wire
Meaning
“Down to the wire” means that something continues until the very last possible moment before a deadline, decision, or result. It suggests that there is little time left and the outcome may remain uncertain until the end.
The expression is associated with horse racing, where a wire marked the finish line. A race decided “down to the wire” was so close that the winner could not be determined until the horses reached the finish.
Usage
The phrase is commonly used when describing deadlines, competitions, negotiations, elections, and other situations where events remain close or unresolved until the end.
You can say “it went down to the wire” for a completed event or “it’s going down to the wire” when the outcome is still unfolding. It often adds a sense of tension and anticipation.
Example Sentences
- The championship game went down to the wire, with the winning goal scored in the final seconds.
- We worked down to the wire to finish the project before the deadline.
- The election is going down to the wire, with the two candidates nearly tied.
- The negotiations went down to the wire before both sides finally reached an agreement.
- It came down to the wire, but she submitted her application just before midnight.