Hail Mary pass
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Hail Mary pass
Where it comes from
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.
noun Hail Mary passes
- 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.
- An act done in desperation, with only a very small chance of success. Some liken that offensive to a “Hail Mary” pass, with the Taliban still entrenched throughout southern and eastern Afghanistan and a program to persuade Talib soldiers to lay down arms and be “reintegrated” into Afghan society having achieved little so far.
Translations
Every language
noun American football: pass with little chance of completion
| Deutsch | Hail Mary, Hail Mary Pass |
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noun act done in desperation
| Deutsch | Verzweiflungsakt, Verzweiflungstat |
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Talk about this word "Hail Mary pass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/hail%20mary%20pass. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. Hail Mary pass. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/hail%20mary%20pass "Hail Mary pass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/hail%20mary%20pass.Cite this
@misc{hail_mary_pass_2026,
title = {Hail Mary pass},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/hail%20mary%20pass},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
