Hail Mary

[ heyl mer-ee, mair-ee ]

noun

1. Ave Maria.
2. Also called Hail Mary pass,. a long forward pass in football, especially as a last-ditch attempt at the end of a game, where completion is considered unlikely.

Hail Mary

noun

1. Also calledAve Maria RC Church a prayer to the Virgin Mary, based on the salutations of the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth (Luke 1:42) to her
2. slang.
   American football a very long high pass into the end zone, made in the final seconds of a half or of a game

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hail Mary¹

1300–50; Middle English, translation of Medieval Latin Ave Maria

Example Sentences

Presumably Jayden Daniels is getting healthier, and the Commanders are flying high after that Hail Mary victory.

From Los Angeles Times

The Hail Mary is to throw it to the House of Representatives, which could produce a Republican president.

From Salon

“This is a Hail Mary by Trump’s team that will likely fail,” Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said of the latest filing on social media.

From Salon

“When you visit a gravesite of a family member — it’s going to sound strange to you — but you say three Hail Marys. And that’s what I was doing at the site.”

From Seattle Times

It was a last-minute Hail Mary that worked in his favor.

From Salon