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Hail Mary pass

noun

Etymology

From Hail Mary, a prayer for intercession, from Latin Ave Maria, plus pass (“moving the ball from one player to another”). Attested from the 1970s in the context of American football.

  1. derived from Ave Maria

Definitions

  1. A long forward pass with little chance of completion, typically used by the losing team…

    A long forward pass with little chance of completion, typically used by the losing team when time is running out and no other play is practical, in a desperate attempt to score the winning points.

    • With 11:04 left in the game, and a comfortable 38–14 lead, Smith heaved a 62-yard, Hail Mary pass to Carter.
    • Maybe I should just toss up a “Hail Mary” pass deep into their territory, as though I was saying a prayer that one of our players would catch it.

  2. An act done in desperation, with only a very small chance of success.

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA