Down to the Wire——最後關頭

** until/at/to the very last minute/moment // at/to the very end // near the finish

~~ 最後階段；最後關頭；最後一刻；直到終點；直到最後期限；瀕臨破產；到撞線那一剎那才能分出勝負

~~ up to the wire // go to the wire // neck and neck // neck to neck // to the last minute // to the last moment // right to the end // in the nick of time（在關鍵時刻）// at the eleventh hour（在最後一刻）// not a moment too soon // on the edge（在邊緣）

!! The "wire" alludes to a wire across and above the end of a race track, notably in horse racing, where horses were said to pass "under the wire" at the end of a race. Here "down to" in down to the wire means the same as "up to," i.e., all the way to the finishing line.

（“線”指的是在賽道終點處橫越賽道的繩線，尤其是指賽馬，據說賽馬在比賽結束時“在線下”通過。這裡的“至到”與“直到”的含義相同，即一直到終點線。）

>> As the local government no longer provides adequate support to small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) during Coronavirus epidemic, many SMEs have already fallen into financial difficulties and are unable to repay government or bank debts. Some companies are down to the wire to bankruptcy.

（政府不再在新冠疫情下支援中小企，不少企業已陷入財困，無力還政府或銀行債項，有些公司到破產最後階段。）

>> International pharmaceutical companies are rushing down to the wire to be the first to begin distributing Coronavirus vaccine before the deep winter sets in.

（嚴冬前最後關頭，國際製藥公司搶先分發新冠疫苗。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師 李啟文　　教授