Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

At the eleventh hour

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "At the eleventh hour" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourTime, Speed, & Urgency collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Time, Speed, & Urgency

At the eleventh hour

At the eleventh hour
At the very last possible moment, just before it is too late.
History & Origin

The idiom originates from the Bible, specifically the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in the Gospel of Matthew. In ancient times, the working day was divided into twelve hours, meaning those hired at the 'eleventh hour' were brought in at the very last moment of the work day but still received a full day's pay. Over the centuries, it evolved into a secular expression for last-minute actions.

Examples
Workplace Email

The client requested major changes to the project at the eleventh hour, forcing the design team to stay up all night to meet the deadline.

Casual Conversation

I hadn't studied at all, but at the eleventh hour, I managed to memorize the key terms and somehow passed the exam.

Academic Writing

Historical records indicate that the two nations averted a full-scale military conflict at the eleventh hour by signing a surprise peace treaty.

News/Media

The political party altered its campaign strategy at the eleventh hour following the sudden release of controversial polling data.

Formal Speech

Thanks to a generous donation received at the eleventh hour, our community shelter will remain open through the winter months.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. Because he wakes up early every single day, his alarm clock always goes off at the eleventh hour.

B. The negotiation was a complete failure because both sides decided to withdraw at the eleventh hour before a compromise could even be discussed.

C. Just as the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel to sell the antique, a billionaire made a winning bid at the eleventh hour.

D. She meticulously planned her wedding for over two years so that everything would be ready at the eleventh hour.