To Go Down to the Wire
This phrase has been borrowed from the sport of horse racing. The wire is the tape at the end of the race. So, when a horse gets to the wire first they win the race. When we use the phrase to go down to the wire in football, we refer to the end of the season when the title is decided in the last few games. Usually two, but sometimes three, teams have a chance of winning the championship on the final day, we say – the title goes down to the wire. Less commonly it can refer to the relegation battle, too. To go down to the wire.
Example: The 2011-12 season in England went down to the wire as Manchester City won in the final minute of the last game of the season.
Example: It looks like the relegation spots will not be decided until the final game of the season – it will go down to the wire.
