under the wire

Cultural  

1. Just in time: “Nancy mailed off her application, and it got in just under the wire.” From horse racing, in which the wire marks the finish line.

---

under the wire Idioms  

1. Barely, scarcely, just within the limit, as in This book will be finished just under the wire. This term comes from horse racing, where the wire marks the finish line. [First half of 1900s] Also see down to the wire.

---

Example Sentences

This passes, just under the wire, as humor because of the rhyme.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

Another combo that I want to sneak in under the wire: Mexican Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies with dulce de leche ice cream.

From Washington Times • Aug. 7, 2023

“They really got in under the wire in a sense, because their marketing message was so strong and so amplified,” Dergarabedian said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2023

Eeli Tolvanen completed the accuracy shooting challenge just under the wire, knocking down his last target as time ran out.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 22, 2023

At the bottom of the meadow they went under the wire fence.

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen