under the wire

under the wire

1. (horse racing) Across the finish line.
   • 1921, B. M. Bower, Cow-Country, ch. 15:

     Lying forward flattened along Sunfish's hard-muscled shoulders, Bud was gaining and gaining—one length, then two lengths as he shot under the wire, slowed and rode back to find a silent crowd watching him.

2. (idiomatic) At the last minute; before the deadline; barely on time; nearly late.
   • 1935, "Zags Jammed," Time, 15 July:

     Russians had heard rumors, and foreign correspondents had obtained confirmation, that the Dictator will soon drastically tighten up proverbially loose Bolshevik divorce laws. In a panic to get in under the wire, every Moscow mate who has recently thought of divorce was last week jamming the official bureaus.

• in the nick of time; see also Thesaurus:just in time