Hail Mary

Origin of: Hail Mary

Hail Mary

A Roman Catholic prayer to Mary the mother of Christ, from the Latin Ave Maria, that dates from the 14th century. More recently, from the 1930s, was first used in American Football, in the context of a long, generally unsuccessful, pass to try to pull off a win in the dying moments of a game. Because it was more of a wishful prayer than a winning tactic, it was called a 'Hail Mary pass'. Since then its usage has broadened to signify any effort in any context that resorts to a wishful prayer rather than adopting a rational winning plan.