under the wire

under the wire

Fig. just barely in time or on time. I turned in my report just under the wire. Bill was the last person to get in the door. He got in under the wire.

See also: wire

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under the wire  (American)

if someone does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment They got in under the wire just before the entry requirements for the training program changed.

See also: wire