down to the wire

基本解释

In the sleeping-cars, there are wire hoops hanging down underneath the seats to which you can padlock your luggage.
卧铺车厢的座位下有铁丝钩，你可以把行李锁在这个上面。
Russian aircraft programmes - even in Soviet times - have often had year-end deadlines to complete first flights that came down to the wire.
俄罗斯的飞机项目——甚至在苏联时代——就经常设立年终期限以在最后期限前完成第一批飞机。
Subsequently, a rock-climbing rescue team from the end of the race to buy down to the wire to move closer to safety tether on him, and then slowly pulled his end.
随后，一名攀岩救援队员从终点沿着钢索向赛买提靠拢，将安全绳系在他身上，再缓慢地将他拉到终点。

The Black Satellites have battled through some adversity to reach the final, edging South Africa in extra time in the first elimination match, and surviving a pair of exciting 3-2 games that came down to the wire in the quarter and semifinals.

Coming off a down-to-the-wire win at Dallas the day before, the Lakers wanted to slow down the Nuggets but just couldn't keep up with their younger, more athletic and, yes, better-rested opponents.
NPR: Chandler Leads Nuggets Past Lakers, 119-108
Each year, it was a down-to-the-wire, nail-biter speech.
FORBES: Governor Kasich Goes Wild
They trail the powerful Vancouver Canucks two games to none, though a pair of down-to-the-wire losses suggests that Boston has a chance to make it a long series as they head to home ice for the next two games.
FORBES: Another Promising Season for NHL