Meaning & use
just under the wire
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Done or finished at the last possible moment before a deadline or before it is too late.
Grammar: Usually used after verbs like 'get in', 'finish', 'submit', or 'be'.
Patterns
- get something in just under the wire
- finish just under the wire
- be just under the wire
I submitted my essay just under the wire—five minutes before midnight.
The team finished the project just under the wire.
We got to the airport just under the wire and barely caught our flight.
Common combinations
- get in just under the wire
- She got her application in just under the wire.
- finish just under the wire
- They finished the report just under the wire.
- just under the wire
- The goal was scored just under the wire, as the whistle blew.
Synonyms and how they differ
- at the last minute
- More general and can be used in any context; 'just under the wire' often implies a deadline or a close call.
- in the nick of time
- Similar, but often used for avoiding danger or disaster, not just deadlines.
Opposites
Commonly confused: just under the wire or under the table?
just under the wire vs under the table
This means secretly or illegally, not related to deadlines.
Practice
What does 'just under the wire' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Just under the wire' means at the last possible moment, often before a deadline. It does not refer to a literal wire or being early.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “just under the wire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.