What is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "down to the wire" can be traced back to horse racing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In horse racing, a wire was stretched across the finish line to help determine the winner of a race. As the horses approached the finish line, the race would often be so close that it would be decided in the final moments, just as they crossed the wire. It is commonly employed when discussing tight deadlines, close competitions, or critical moments in a process.