down to the wire

down to the wire

Until the last possible second. Negotiations went down to the wire, but we did in fact agree on a new contract by the deadline.

See also: down, wire

down to the wire

To the last minute; to the very end. For example, We're just about down to the wire with this project. This term comes from horseracing, where it was long the practice to stretch a wire across and above the track at the finish line. It was extended to figurative use about 1900.

See also: down, wire

down to the wire

COMMON If you do something down to the wire, you continue doing it until the last possible moment. Sutton claims the race for the championship will go right down to the wire. Negotiations are likely to go down to the wire. Note: The `wire' here is a an imaginary one which the horses pass under at the end of a race.

See also: down, wire

down to the wire

used to denote a situation whose outcome is not decided until the very last minute. informal

This expression comes from horse racing and originated in North America, where a wire is stretched across and above the finishing line on a racecourse.

See also: down, wire

down to the wire

mod. until the very last minute. We went right down to the wire on that one.

See also: down, wire

down to the wire

Informal

To the very end, as in a race or contest.

See also: down, wire