Under the wire

From Fresh Dictionary

English

Prepositional phrase

under the wire

1. ((idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) just barely on time; at the last minute; nearly late

   He stayed up all night writing, and finally finished his paper under the wire.