to come/go (right) down to the wire

idiom

- to only be decided or become clear at the last possible moment

(Macmillan Dictionary)

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The expression "down to the wire" originated from horseracing. In the days before cameras, racetracks placed a wire across the finish line to help officials determine the winner. Thus extremely close races were said to "come down to the wire." A similar expression is "under the wire," which refers to completing something right before the deadline.

Before the use of mechanical starting gates, a wire was also placed at the starting line to see if any of the horses had a head start (also called a false start). This led to another figure of speech — wire to wire — which describes a race or competition that is very close from start to finish.

Horseracing has given the English language a number of other expressions and figures of speech. Here is a sample:

- homestretch = the final phase of an endeavour or project. On a racecourse the final part of the track that leads to the finish line is called the homestretch. (After nearly a year working on the house, we're in the homestretch)

- hands down = with great ease; unconditionally. Originally found in the phrase "win hands down," in which a jockey, certain of victory, drops his hands and relaxes his hold on the reins. (We won the departmental football tournament hands down)

- by a nose = to succeed by a very narrow margin. This stems from one horse beating another to the finish line by just the length of its nose. (We won the contract by a nose)

- one-horse race = a competition which one particular person or team is very likely to win because they seem much better than the other people competing (The election for mayor was a one-horse race)

- the inside track = to have information or a position that makes it easier to win. This derives from the idea that a horse that starts on the inside position of the track has the advantage. (She has the inside track for the new sales manager job)

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Practice OWAD in a conversation today, say something like:

"It will come DOWN TO THE WIRE at the end of next week, when we have to present the proposal to the board."

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Thanks Florian, for suggesting today's OWAD