How to Pronounce "down to the wire"
expression
ˈdaʊn/ /ˈtu/, /tə/, /tɪ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈwaɪɝ/, /ˈwaɪɹ
DOWN-tuh-thuh-WY-er
dˈaʊn/ /tˈuː/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈaɪə
DOWN-tuh-thuh-WY-uh
Definition
This expression means that something is not decided until the very last possible moment, often used for competitions or situations that remain uncertain until the end.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈdaʊn/ /ˈtu/, /tə/, /tɪ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈwaɪɝ/, /ˈwaɪɹ
British English
dˈaʊn/ /tˈuː/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈaɪə
Simplified Pronunciation
US
DOWN-tuh-thuh-WY-er
UK
DOWN-tuh-thuh-WY-uh
Listen in Context
The football game went down to the wire.
The election result was down to the wire.
We worked down to the wire to finish the project.
It was a close match; it came down to the wire.