under the wire

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.

Idioms and Phrases

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

Two individual shareholders and the Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund sued over the practice on Thursday — filing the case in Delaware right under the wire before Tesla followed through on the reincorporation vote by making itself a Texas company.

From Los Angeles Times

But Cuomo’s executive orders meant that the deadline for filing the charges in the indictment was extended by one year and 47 days, meaning that it was brought just under the wire.

From Seattle Times

In 2003, when "The Sopranos" was having a gap year and shows like "Six Feet Under," "The Wire" and "The Shield" defined our perception of quality TV, a Fox teen drama that debuted in August introduced "the greatest super holiday known to mankind": Chrismukkah.

From Salon

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

He made that transfer under the wire, right before state campaign finance officials clarified officially that for such transfers candidates not only must get permission from donors in writing, but also must disclose whose permission they got.

From Seattle Times