down to the wire

1. 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.

Example Sentences

Both players finally signed big-money deals, but only after Jones pushed negotiations to the limit - with again many believing his penchant for the dramatic means taking talks down to the wire before the start of the season to squeeze out more column inches.

From BBC

The Riot’s matchup against the Boston Ball Hogs came down to the wire with a playoff berth on the line.

From Los Angeles Times

One wonders how Stokes, the arch-competitor, coped with watching Monday's finale go down to the wire.

From BBC

Washington and the 27-nation bloc have both played hardball and neither was ready to give in easily, which is why these talks went down to the wire.

From BBC

DeLuca was a singer-songwriter best known for his 1986 album, “Down to the Wire.”

From Los Angeles Times