under the wire

Meaning

To do or complete something 'under the wire' means to get it done at the very last possible moment, just before a deadline or limit. The phrase originates from horse racing, where a wire was strung across the finish line. It is commonly used in business to describe projects, applications, or deals completed just in time.

Examples

• We submitted the proposal at 11:59 PM, getting it in just under the wire.

  We submitted the proposal at 11:59 PM, getting it in just under the wire.

• The budget approval came through under the wire, right before the fiscal year ended.

  The budget approval came through under the wire, right before the fiscal year ended.

• I managed to register for the conference under the wire before they closed sign-ups.

  I managed to register for the conference under the wire before they closed sign-ups.

• It was a frantic rush, but we got the tax documents filed under the wire.

  It was a frantic rush, but we got the tax documents filed under the wire.

• Our team worked through the night to ensure the software update was released under the wire.

  Our team worked through the night to ensure the software update was released under the wire.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We finished the project below the wire.

  ✓ We finished the project under the wire.

  Use the preposition 'under', not 'below' or 'beneath', as the idiom is fixed.

• ✗ The application was sent under the wire of the deadline.

  ✓ The application was sent under the wire.

  Do not append 'of the deadline' to the phrase. 'Under the wire' already implies doing it just before the deadline.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The application system crashed at midnight, but luckily my submission got in ___.

  💡 just before the deadline

  Show answer

  under the wire

• We had to work overtime, but we managed to finish the audit ___.

  💡 at the very last moment

  Show answer

  under the wire