How to Use down-to-the-wire in a Sentence

down-to-the-wire

adjective

• That figures to make for some low scores and maybe a down-to-the-wire finish.
  — Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2023
• That stress and pressure presented itself in a down-to-the-wire finish.
  — Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
• The result is some down-to-the-wire races in several major categories.
  — David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
• The game followed a championship series filled with down-to-the-wire face-offs won by edge-of-your-seat buzzer beaters.
  — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 June 2026
• Another week, another down-to-the-wire win for Denver.
  — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
• While the coach spoke briefly about his heritage following the down-to-the-wire victory, he’s been open about his background in the past.
  — Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
• Another super-small spread (-1 for the Jags) hints at down-to-the-wire showmanship.
  — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
• Dallas fought back and forced a hold situation in the 65th minute as both teams prepared for a down-to-the-wire finish.
  — Matt Guzman, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2024
• The Chiefs and Lions advanced with tough, down-to-the-wire victories on Sunday.
  — Rob Maaddi, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
• Unfortunately, for those of us who love down-to-the-wire drama, most of the major domestic leagues have very little to play for.
  — Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
• The down-to-the-wire drama wouldn’t be complete without some SURvers lending a helping hand.
  — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
• The mayor, absent his typical blazer, sat at a table with inmates, watching what turned out to be one of the most down-to-the-wire matches yet.
  — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 16 July 2026
• There is always some down-to-the-wire confusion when high-profile companies are fighting for their financial futures.
  — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
• With two elite quarterbacks, top-tier offenses, and strong defenses, this game has all the ingredients for a down-to-the-wire finish.
  — Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
• Muhl’s appearance was brief in the down-to-the-wire battle, which ended in an 85-83 victory for the Storm.
  — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2024
• Through two full rounds, these playoffs have given us down-to-the-wire finishes, big time upsets and huge individual performances.
  — The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2023
• Some chains might have their lights off for the holiday, but others, like Dollar General, are staying open for down-to-the-wire purchases.
  — Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
• Jacobs is notorious for down-to-the-wire decisions, and the beauty for his 40th anniversary show was no exception.
  — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2024
• Skokie’s election season did not end on Election Day, and a district trustee declared victory in a down-to-the-wire finish almost two weeks after the polls closed.
  — Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
• Pittman and company are out to find ways to reverse their fortunes in down-to-the-wire games, and a big part of that is converting on short-yardage plays and in the red zone and getting off the field more often on third and fourth downs on defense.
  — Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2023
• Westfield ended Carmel’s seven-year sectional title reign last year in a down-to-the-wire 59-54 sectional championship game.
  — The Indianapolis Star, 28 Feb. 2023
• In a fierce, down-to-the-wire battle with eventual winner Josef Newgarden, Grosjean lined up a couple of late runs at the leader but could never quite connect.
  — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2023
• Less than a month ago, the Lakers squandered double-digit leads against the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic in down-to-the-wire defeats.
  — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
• The down-to-the-wire game ended when Wildcats quarterback Jayden de Laura was stuffed inches short of a first down on a 4th-and-10 scramble in overtime.
  — Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023
• The June 2026 election has been dominated by a down-to-the-wire governor’s race that has been filled with drama, scandal and much national attention.
  — Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
• Following her nose to a funeral where Arthur has managed to convince the dithering family to cremate rather than go with burial, Elsbeth has her most down-to-the-wire crime-proving moment yet.
  — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
• The true significance of Pakistan's intervention only became clear when both sides agreed to a pause shortly after a down-to-the-wire plea from the country's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
  — Betsy Joles, NPR, 12 Apr. 2026
• With the country’s top high school athletes competing, the New Balance Nationals indoor track meet produces down-to-the-wire finishes and shattered personal records in nearly every event.
  — Matty Wasserman, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2023
• Behind another 100-plus medal performance and a down-to-the-wire race for the most gold medals are tentacles that stretch from the most hallowed academic halls to the after-school recreation program at the local YMCA.
  — Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 11 Aug. 2024
• Fresh off a historic state championship title, the Saint Mary's varsity football team is back in Stockton after a nail-biting down-to-the-wire win in Southern California against Bakersfield Christian.
  — Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025