At the eleventh hour
The idiom “at the eleventh hour” refers to doing something at the last possible moment, just before it is too late. This expression originates from the Bible, specifically the parable of the workers in the vineyard, where laborers were hired throughout the day but those hired at the eleventh hour received the same pay as those who worked the full day.
When someone completes a task or takes action at the eleventh hour, it implies that they waited until the very end to do so, often causing stress or uncertainty due to the proximity of the deadline. This idiom underscores the idea of a close call or narrowly avoiding a negative outcome by acting just in time. For example, if a student procrastinates on a project and finishes it the night before it’s due, they can be said to have completed it “at the eleventh hour.” Similarly, in business, making a crucial decision right before a major deadline can be described using this idiom.