down to the wire

Related to down to the wire: under the wire, dropping like flies

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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*down-to-the-wire

Fig. waiting until the very last moment; right up to the deadline. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) It came down-to-the-wire before I turned the proposal in. We went right down-to-the-wire on that one.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

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
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

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
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

down to the wire

mod. until the very last minute. We went right down to the wire on that one.
See also: down, wire
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

down to the wire

Informal
To the very end, as in a race or contest.
See also: down, wire
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

down to the wire

At the very last minute; at the end. The term, an Americanism dating from the late nineteenth century, alludes to the practice of stretching a wire across and above the track at the start and finish of a racecourse. Here “down to” actually means the same as “up to,” that is, all the way to the finishing line. It began to be transferred to occasions other than horse races about 1900, and appears in print in Down the Line (1901) by H. McHugh (pseudonym for George Vere Hobart): “Swift often told himself he could . . . beat him down to the wire.”
See also: down, wire
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • come a gutser
  • be down to (one)
  • be down to somebody/something
  • be down to something
  • be down to (do something)
  • bounce up and down
  • close down
  • close down and shut down
  • come a cropper
  • come a-cropper
References in periodicals archive
READING V SWANSEA MATCH PREVIEW PAGE 119 REACHING FOR THE SUMMIT IT'S been dubbed the pounds 90m match, with Premier League status the prize for Reading or Swansea at Wembley today, and bookmakers believe the battle for the big time could go down to the wire.
REACHING FOR THE SUMMIT
It would appear Group Four will go down to the wire, and that Ireland's Lansdowne Road battle with Switzerland on October 12 will prove the defining moment in whether they head to Germany, face a play-off or the agony of elimination.
Kerr buoyed by three points; FOOTBALL
DOWN TO THE WIRE. "The success of baling plastic often has more to do with wire quality than with the baler itself," says Szany.
Waiting to exhale: wire and experience can help recyclers deal with the problems associated with baling plastics
They seem only to study for tests or write papers when things are down to the wire. Is it a smart use of time?
This can't wait: if your habit is to wait until the last minute, you need to read this--now. (Handle Your Business)
The big fight that figures to go down to the wire is between conservative Republicans and the White House over the Labor and Health and Human Services bill.
Unlimited Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients still considered likely
"With the presidential race coming down to the wire and deadlines looming, many papers, including the Post-Dispatch, went to bed prematurely declaring
CLICHE CORNER
1) made (false) catastrophic predictions; 2) tried "consciously to subvert the democratic process and the will of the people by trying to persuade the Senate in Ottawa to block constitutional change that had been approved by Newfoundland and the House of Commons"; 3) led a (subversive) court challenge to what had been approved by the Newfoundland legislature and by the two Houses of Parliament; 4) lacked "good faith" when the government made "one compromise after another" (John Gray, "Newfoundland referendum down to the wire again," pages A1 and 12).
Newfoundland's tragedy
And former England No.8 Richards (right) said: "The way we came back against Sale means it will go right down to the wire.
DEANO'S FALCONS CAN FLY
It is right down to the wire in a tense finish to the Premier Division also as last week's results set-up a grandstand finish after Campfield capitulated 3-0 when they hosted Home Bargains.
Marshalls complete league and cup in five-star show; liverpool business houses
LEROY FER admits Swansea City are braced for their Premier League survival battle to go down to the wire - but believes returning to the home comforts of the Liberty Stadium can get Paul Clement's men back on track.
Home has to be where heart is
TALKS aimed at thrashing out a permanent model for Scotland's funding once Holyrood gain new powers could again go down to the wire.
CASH TALKS WARNING
SONE Aluko has predicted the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race will go down to the wire after Rangers hauled themselves back to within a point of leaders Celtic.
Title race is hotting up
But there's no doubt the number of chances we blew against Castleford made sure our quarter-final clash was a bit of a thriller and went right down to the wire.
Not the plan!
THE SPL title race will go right down to the wire this afternoon and I'm sure there are a few twists and turns left still.
THE SPL title race will go right down
SKIPPER Craig Bellamy believes Wales are fast becoming good enough to take a World Cup qualifying campaign "down to the wire."
World Cup pledge