at the last possible moment · just in time
Ever been in a situation where a deadline was looming, and everything came together just as the clock was about to hit zero? 😅 That's 'at the eleventh hour' for you! It's when something happens right at the very last moment, often creating a little bit of drama (or a lot of stress!).
💡 **Why 'eleventh hour'?** This idiom comes from the Bible, specifically the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1-16, where workers are hired 'about the eleventh hour' (the last hour of the working day). So, it literally means 'just before closing time'! Use it to describe tight finishes, last-minute decisions, or anything that barely made the cut. Don't make it a habit, though! 😉
Imagine your team finished a major project report just minutes before the submission deadline. Which English expression perfectly describes this? A. at the early bird B. at the eleventh hour C. at the first minute