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
That included a takedown on a Hail Mary attempt to end the first half, sending the Tigers into the locker room on a sour note.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
After Xaverian missed a go-ahead 36-yard field goal attempt to end the third, Staine decided to begin the fourth and final quarter with one of his signature Hail Mary shots.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Of the various motions, the one that will attract the most attention and likely take up the most time is Combs’ Hail Mary move to have the jury’s verdict tossed out.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
The visiting Olympians almost completed a Hail Mary in the back of the end zone but the pass was ruled incomplete.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
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Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
After Xaverian missed a go-ahead 36-yard field goal attempt to end the third, Staine decided to begin the fourth and final quarter with one of his signature Hail Mary shots.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Of the various motions, the one that will attract the most attention and likely take up the most time is Combs’ Hail Mary move to have the jury’s verdict tossed out.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
The visiting Olympians almost completed a Hail Mary in the back of the end zone but the pass was ruled incomplete.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
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