| Clue | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| *Barely triumphs | The Washington Post | 15 Apr 2021 |
| *Barely triumphs | LA Times Daily | 15 Apr 2021 |
| “But at the wire, Pinocchio ___!” | Wall Street Journal | 05 Sep 2020 |
| Triumphs right at the wire | ||
| Squeaks by | ||
| *Triumphs, but barely | ||
| Almost loses: Colloq. |