Hail Mary
noun
Also called Hail Mary pass, Hail Mary play.
a long forward pass in football, especially as a last-ditch attempt at the end of a game, where completion is considered unlikely.
Origin of Hail Mary
1300–50; Middle English, translation of Medieval Latin
Ave Maria
Example sentences from the Web for hail mary
As an election tactic, it was a Hail-Mary move: a half-hour address by an aging actor of no political standing or constituency.
British Dictionary definitions for hail mary
Hail Mary
noun
Also called: Ave 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
American football slang
a very long high pass into the end zone, made in the final seconds of a half or of a game