at the eleventh hour
at the ee-LEV-unth OW-er
/æt ðə ɪˈlevnθ ˈaʊə/
At the latest possible moment; just before it is too late.
Often used in the context of negotiations, decisions, or changes of heart.
The story behind the word. This phrase comes from the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in the Bible. Workers who were hired at the 'eleventh hour' (the last hour of the workday) received the same pay as those who started at dawn.
Word relationships
- at the last minute: 'At the eleventh hour' is more formal and carries more weight or gravity.
- well in advance: 'Well in advance' means long before the deadline.
Commonly confused with
- in the nick of time: 'In the nick of time' is often used for physical rescues; 'at the eleventh hour' is for bureaucratic or conceptual changes.
Collocations
- saved at the eleventh hour
- changed at the eleventh hour
- eleventh-hour decision
Example sentences
- "And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle." Biblical Source (The Bible, Matthew 20:6)
- "The peace treaty was signed at the eleventh hour, preventing the outbreak of war." International Diplomacy
Memory hook
Think of a clock showing 11:59, just one minute before the day ends. The final hour of the workday.
When not to use
Less common in casual speech than 'at the last minute'.
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, 'eleventh hour' was sometimes used to mean 'the end of the world'.
Related words
Explore more words
imminent, negotiate, procrastinate, hasty, climax, negotiation
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