Hail Mary
noun
plural Hail Marys
1
: a Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary that consists of salutations and a plea for her intercession
2
or less commonly Hail Mary pass
: a long forward pass in football thrown into or near the end zone in a last-ditch attempt to score as time runs out
—often used figuratively
The only potential cure is a stem-cell transplant, when you take somebody else's immune system and put it into yours. But right now that's kind of a Hail Mary pass.—
Douglas Cote, quoted in Bicycling
Douglas Cote, quoted in BicyclingExamples of Hail Mary in a Sentence
He threw up a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, that is indeed Tie Domi making the Hail Mary pass to spring Selanne.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
There’s the Hail Mary fiasco and its fallout, but Stevenson also continued to rotate with Smith last season.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The Bulldogs launched a Hail Mary from beyond half court that missed, giving Baylor the victory.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025
Alabama State's March Madness miracle The Alabama State Hornets men's basketball team has won its first NCAA Tournament game, thanks to a Hail Mary in their First Four victory over the St. Francis Red Flash on Tuesday.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Hail Mary
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Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
There’s the Hail Mary fiasco and its fallout, but Stevenson also continued to rotate with Smith last season.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The Bulldogs launched a Hail Mary from beyond half court that missed, giving Baylor the victory.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025
Alabama State's March Madness miracle The Alabama State Hornets men's basketball team has won its first NCAA Tournament game, thanks to a Hail Mary in their First Four victory over the St. Francis Red Flash on Tuesday.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Hail Mary
Cite this Entry
“Hail Mary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hail%20Mary. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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