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Reader question: Please explain “Hail Mary” in this sentence: My third and last time at chemo therapy was a “Hail Mary”. My comments: The speaker means to say that his or her third attempt at chemo therapy was her last and final one. They wished this time it would succeed but knew the chances were not good. In fact, the odds are so poor that it’s as if they had to literally say “Hail Mary” and pray for a miracle to happen. “Hail Mary” is a prayer among Christians, uttered when they want to ask for holy intervention. This usually happens when they want to accomplish something difficult. Apparently they believe that, with blessing from Virgin Mary (who was chosen to bear Jesus by God), the chances of their endeavor bearing fruit can be increased. Anyways, a Hail Mary is a prayer for something to succeed even though everyone knows the chances are slim. It’s a last-resort attempt, a desperate attempt, a case of wishful thinking – wishing for a miracle. In our example, the cancer patient probably would not undergo any more chemo therapy treatment if this, the third attempt fails. He or she might try something else, say, herbal medicine but not chemo again. Here are media examples of “Hail Mary” in other situations, often in sports: 1. As one of 18,000 people who've been in the federal government’s witness protection program, Larry Reynolds was given a new identity and asked to follow a few simple rules. | 
