down to the wire

From horse racing: approaching the wire that marks the winning line.

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down to the wire (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) At the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.

   He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date meant it would be down to the wire.

• last minute

down to the wire (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) At the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.

   He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date meant it would come down to the wire.

   • 2022 February 27, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Liverpool created a host of chances and had a Joel Matip goal ruled out for a foul and offside in an incident-packed game that went right down to the wire before Jurgen Klopp's side prevailed.

• down to the short strokes