1. Home
2. Idioms
3. down to the wire

down to the 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: down, wire

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: 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

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