under the wire

wire (w

1. A usually pliable metallic strand or rod made in many lengths and diameters, sometimes clad and often electrically insulated, used chiefly for structural support or to conduct electricity.

2. A group of wire strands bundled or twisted together as a functional unit; cable.

3. Something resembling a wire, as in slenderness or stiffness.

4. An open telephone connection.

5. Slang A hidden microphone, as on a person's body or in a building.

a. A telegraph service.

b. A telegram or cablegram.

7. A wire service.

8. Computer Science A pin in the print head of a computer printer.

9. The screen on which sheets of paper are formed in a papermaking machine.

10. Sports The finish line of a racetrack.

11. wires

a. The system of strings employed in manipulating puppets in a show.

b. Hidden controlling influences.

12. Slang A pickpocket.

13. Fencing made of usually barbed wire.

v. wired, wir·ing, wires

v.tr.

1. To bind, connect, or attach with wires or a wire.

2. To string (beads, for example) on wire.

3. To equip with a system of electrical wires.

4. Slang To install electronic eavesdropping equipment in (a room, for example).

5. To send by telegraph: wired her congratulations.

6. To send a telegram to.

7. Computer Science To implement (a capability) through logic circuitry that is permanently connected within a computer or calculator and therefore not subject to change by programming.

8. To determine or put into effect by physiological or neurological mechanisms; hard-wire: "It is plausible that the basic organization of grammar is wired into the child's brain" (Steven Pinker).

v.intr.

To send a telegram.

Idioms:

down to the wire Informal

To the very end, as in a race or contest.

under the wire

1. Sports At the finish line.

2. Informal Just in the nick of time; at the last moment.

[Middle English, from Old English wr; see wei- in Indo-European roots.]

wira·ble adj.

under the wire - Meaning "just in time," it is from horse racing, in which the wire marks the finish line.

See also related terms for wire.

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baling wire barbed wire barbwire booster cable chicken wire conducting wire down to the wire filament high wire jumper cable jumper lead live wire phone cord telegraph line telegraph wire telephone cord telephone line telephone wire trip wire	Under cover Under covert under fire Under foot Under ground under it under obligation Under one's breath Under one's signature Under one's thumb Under open sky Under sail Under sentence under that Under the breath under the circumstances Under the hand of Under the harrow Under the lee Under the lee of Under the rose Under the sun under the table under the weather Under the wing of under the wire Under water under way under wraps Under yard under- under-achieve under-achievement under-achiever under-age Under-arm under-employment under-financed under-funded Under-garment under-secretary under-secretaryship under-the-counter under-the-table under... underachieve underachievement underachiever underact Underaction underactive	under the skin under the sun under the sun under the sun Under The Sun Studios under the table under the table under the table under the table under the table under the table under the table Under the Table and Dreaming Under the Table Box Under the Thumb Under The Water Team under the weather under the weather under the weather under the weather under the weather under the weather Under The Wiccan Moon Under the Will Of under the wind under the wind under the wind under the wind under the wing of under the wing of under the wire under these circumstances under these conditions Under Thread Stop Motion under thumb under thumb under thumb under thumb under thumb Under Track Crossing Under Tree Schools Under Trust Agreement Under Trust Dated Under Trust Instrument Under Twin Skies Under Used Under Usual Reserves Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device Under Vehicle Inspection System under vehicle scanning systems Under Vehicle Surveillance System under very eyes under very eyes under very eyes under very eyes Under Voltage Under Voltage Lockout Under Voltage Protection Under water Under Water Drain Under Water Seal Drain

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baling wire
barbed wire
barbwire
booster cable
chicken wire
conducting wire
down to the wire
filament
high wire
jumper cable
jumper lead
live wire
phone cord
telegraph line
telegraph wire
telephone cord
telephone line
telephone wire
trip wire

under the skin
under the sun
under the sun
under the sun
Under The Sun Studios
under the table
under the table
under the table
under the table
under the table
under the table
under the table
Under the Table and Dreaming
Under the Table Box
Under the Thumb
Under The Water Team
under the weather
under the weather
under the weather
under the weather
under the weather
under the weather
Under The Wiccan Moon
Under the Will Of
under the wind
under the wind
under the wind
under the wind
under the wing of
under the wing of

under the wire

under these circumstances
under these conditions
Under Thread Stop Motion
under thumb
under thumb
under thumb
under thumb
under thumb
Under Track Crossing
Under Tree Schools
Under Trust Agreement
Under Trust Dated
Under Trust Instrument
Under Twin Skies
Under Used
Under Usual Reserves
Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device
Under Vehicle Inspection System
under vehicle scanning systems
Under Vehicle Surveillance System
under very eyes
under very eyes
under very eyes
under very eyes
Under Voltage
Under Voltage Lockout
Under Voltage Protection
Under water
Under Water Drain
Under Water Seal Drain