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down to the wire

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus 0.04 sec.
down to the wire  (American & Australian)
until the very last moment that it is possible to do something
Usage notes: In a horse race, the wire is a metal thread that marks the finishing line.
If both teams are playing at their best, the game will go down to the wire (= it will be won at the last moment). The Democrats struggled down to the wire to choose their candidate.
See also: wire

down to the wire
until the last possible moment The election was so close, it went down to the wire and was decided by a court. We had very little time to get the place decorated for the party, which meant that everyone worked right down to the wire.
Etymology: based on the racing meaning of wire (a thread that marks where a race ends)
See also: wire


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Vornado is taking the high-stakes battle over office REIT, Equity Office Properties, down to the wire after a $22.
The struggle to reform the state's costly workers' compensation system will likely go down to the wire this week in the Legislature.
They seem only to study for tests or write papers when things are down to the wire.
 
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