hail mary
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.86 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A prayer, of established or conventional wording, calling for the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
noun
A risky last-ditch effort with great benefit but little chance of success; one whose success would require divine intervention; a Hail Mary pass.
American usage
Example Sentences
- "“What did the priest, and all of you, keep on saying when we first went in?” / “Our Fathers, Hail Maries, and Glorias; couldn’t you hear?” asked Emily, laughing. / “No, I should think not, you rattled on so fast- What are Hail Maries and Glorias?” / “The Gloria you know well enough, my dear, because you say it in your church at the end of every psalm,” replied Miss Horton; “the Hail Mary is a prayer to our Blessed Lady,” and she repeated it."
- "And if I say ten Hail Marys / Leave a light on in Heaven for me"
- "Hail Mary deal"
- "There are hundreds of plays and combinations, plus a great two-player mode. This guide should tell you which plays work best and when to use them. Grab a hot-dog and take to the stands for a few Hail Marys followed by a quick Toss and Pass."
- "Silk Road was, in some sense, a last heave—a Hail Mary in the parlance of Ross's football-mad hometown."
- "Trump administration files Hail Mary appeal to derail youth climate lawsuit [title]"
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
- American usage