go down to the wire

go down to the wire

To be unresolved or have an outcome that is in question until the last possible moment. Negotiations went down to the wire, but we did in fact agree on a new contract by the deadline. I expect this game to go down to the wire, with the winner being whoever has the ball last.
See also: down, go, wire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go, come, etc. (right) down to the ˈwire

(informal) if you say that a situation goes down to the wire, you mean that the result will not be decided or known until the very end: Most people are predicting a very close game, quite possibly going right down to the wire.
In this idiom, the wire refers to the finishing line in races.
See also: down, wire
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • come down to the wire
  • go, come, etc. down to the wire
  • down to the wire
  • down-to-the-wire
  • be down to the wire
  • under the wire
  • live wire
  • a live wire
  • at the very worst
  • at worst
References in periodicals archive
NEWCASTLE United have 'one or two things bubbling away' in the final week of the transfer window - but Steve Bruce does not think they will go down to the wire, writes CIARAN KELLY.
Bruce: Deadline day won't go to wire for us
opener pitting Army and Navy is also expected to go down to the wire with both teams breaking off their tie at 4-2.
HD Spikers target 6th straight victory
It could go down to the wire if Saints can beat Hamilton Acciestonight - setting up a final day decider against Dundee next weekend.
Hit the road
THE relegation battle will go down to the wire and on the back of a couple of decent results for Southampton, it's going to be Cardiff or Brighton.
I'm looking on Brighton side; STAN COLLYMORE @StanCollymore
LIAM Fox has claimed talks to replicate EU trade agreements after Brexit will "go down to the wire", amid concerns over a lack of progress.
'Post-Brexit trade deal talks will go down to the wire' - Fox
MANCHESTER City striker Sergio Aguero is adamant the Premier League title race will go down to the wire - but admits Liverpool have grown for several years under Jurgen Klopp.
Title race to go down to the wire - Aguero
Live golf Sky Sports 4, 6pm IN the end the will-he-won't he saga of Phil Mickelson's participation at the US Open didn't go down to the wire, writes Graham Woods.
Child's play for Lefty since day one; SPORT ON TV
Hamilton are just two points above second bottom and Longridge added: "From 11th to seventh only five points separates us so it will go down to the wire. Hopefully we can keep going this run of positive results we've had."
I'M READY FOR BATTLE
The relegation battle will almost certainly go down to the wire, with only five points separating eight teams.
Huyton suffer title setback
MANAGER Gary Rowett believes the Championship play-off race will 'go down to the wire' and could include a dozen clubs.
Play-off race will be fight to the finish, predicts boss
President Barack Obama has endorsed Sylvester Turner in the Houston mayoral runoff, a race expected to go down to the wire Saturday between the longtime state representative and former Kemah Mayor Bill King.
Obama Endorses Turner in Houston Mayoral Runoff
"If you look at all the big games - especially between South Africa and New Zealand - they go down to the wire every time.
Matfield opens up about closing game out
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong stocks sank 1.49 percent by the break Friday as Greeces debt reform talks go down to the wire and as mainland markets dived on concerns about high valuations with margin traders closing positions.
Hong Kong stocks down 1.49% at lunch, Shanghai plunges
THE title race will go down to the wire after the top two failed to take advantage of each other's failure to win on the road.
ROUND-UP
He said: "Just a second separated the top three last year and I'm sure it's going to go down to the wire again in 2015.
Weir called up for Team GB