Down to the wire字面解释就是“到绳子那儿”。这是什么意思呢？请看对话：

    A: I thought the stocks would plunge again. But the market finally regained some momentum.

    B: I know. That was so amazing! Chinese investors these days are going to have a heart attack!

    A: You are exaggerating. But the game between buyers and short-sellers really came down to the wire.

    Note: The idiom originated in horse racing. In the early days, the finish line for horse races had a wire that stretched across the track, much like the tape we see in sprints. The purpose of this wire was to determine which horse crossed the finish line first. We use down to the wire for any situation which is tense because its outcome may not be decided until the very last moment. It can be used not just in sports, but in business and politics as well.