Meanings
alternative down-to-the-wire
- idiomaticnot comparableAt the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.
He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date meant it would be down to the wire.
Synonyms: down to the short strokes, last minute
alternative down-to-the-wire
- idiomaticnot comparableAt the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.
He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date meant it would come down to the wire.
1 more example
Liverpool created a host of chances and had a Joel Matip goal ruled out for a foul and offside in an incident-packed game that went right down to the wire before Jurgen Klopp's side prevailed.
2022 February 27, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC SportSynonyms: down to the short strokes
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveAt the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.
adverbAt the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.
Origin
From horse racing: approaching the wire that marks the winning line.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Italian in dirittura d'arrivo
- in dirittura d'arrivoat the very end
Cite this entry
down to the wire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down%20to%20the%20wire
“down to the wire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down%20to%20the%20wire. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “down to the wire,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down%20to%20the%20wire.
Source: down to the wire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.