This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
English language (monolingual) [PRO] Medical - Medical (general) / Cancer
English term or phrase:the \"Hail Mary\" of medicine
Could anyone help me understand what does this phrase mean? Thank you!
Context: "[There exists] an all-natural answer to cancer, exhaustion, weight gain and even brain fog but the pharmaceutical companies will never let you see the alternatives... Why? Simple, they make too much money from cancer" "This could be the "Hail Mary" of medicine."
Explanation: Once someone has placed an answer without looking at the agreement in the discussion, I feel I have to put this into the mix too. According to the text (and also some distorted logic), those companies have no interest in solving the cancer conundrum. This 'answer' is said to be a solution, which they 'will never to let you see', although it could be the 'Holy Grail' of medicine. If we put in the meaning of the Hail Mary analysed in the discussion, it becomes illogical. The Hail Mary is a Catholic prayer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary), I don't think it could have much symbolic meaning for any science as it is not a solution, no connotations to discoveries, though it has a connotation of a thanks for something that miraculously and unexpectedly happened. On the other hand, the Holy Grail has a very old story of mystical meaning, which is established in the E lang, its original religious feeling is long lost and has the meaning of 'unbelievable', 'wonderful' panacea. This was my original explanation and I stick with it. Further references can be found in Charles' and gallagy's notes and my re-phrasing. Also, religious Christians say 3 Hail Mary's AFTER they succeeded whereas here the text states this "all-natural answer to cancer" is rejected by the industry ... so it is not a successful idea. Implied meaning is a contradiction, without expressly saying, "ALTHOUGH this could be ... of medicine." Here a THANKS, or a desperation solution doesn't fit, but a real, sensational solution like a Holy Grail does. Although in vain, at the moment. Of course I understand that it would be a solution for the desperate of today. But this meaning would require quite a bit of mental gymnastics in the context provided.
It's always good to keep up with the careers of favourite characters and I am delighted that the wizard is now "Dr Oz", but assume that is a PhD rather than an MD. How's the Tin Man doing?
... but the industry is reluctant to admit it, let alone put it on the market as cancer brings them too much money ... according to the text, of course.
the Holy Grail of cures I agree with Siegfried/Simon. This is what it means here imo. No time to go into this in detail but the following explanations may help... @ Sheila When (Irish) Catholics say "Hail Mary" when something finally happens/a meal finally arrives etc they mean "Thank GOD! At long last!! All prayers are answered! Or "else in vulgar form "Thanks be to Jaysus!" Mary is always seen as the best person to pray to to ask for intercession. Many Protestants consider this blasphemous but Catholics consider she has a special place in Heaven, and as a mother who suffered tragedy, can understand loss and intercede for them (many mothers in particular are devoted to Mary). @ english partner a Hail Mary attempt/pass etc is not quite "desperate" but rather much-hoped for or prayed for. You're praying for intercession as you do it/make the pass and hoping it's successful (so it may be seen as a bit miraculous) Saying three Hail Mary's as penance after confession will give absolution and the 3 graces wished for...Anyway a bit more context in beginning would have been good to work out which meaning was best here but I think Peter Simon got it
Could allude to the use of "Hail Mary" as penance following confession of sins in the Roman Catholic church. Like a sort of powerful agent that cures anything.
As Peter has already said, the "act of desperation" interpretation really doesn't fit. They mean a wonderful breakthrough:
"“We have the science to suggest that if you can make three changes -– give up all meat, all dairy, and refined foods including free oils -- you can avoid dying from cancer and heart disease. It’s being brought to life in a new documentary called Forks Over Knives. I saw it, I loved it, and I need all of you to see it too. This could be the Hail Mary of medicine.” --Dr. Mehmet Oz" http://encognitive.com/quotes
My immediate reaction to this was that they must have meant "Holy Grail" and got their religious metaphors muddled. However, following on from englishpartner's comment, I find this:
"A "Hail Mary" prayer is powerful. A "Hail Mary" anything outside of prayer is an act of desperation and is anything but powerful. Consider the "Hail Mary pass" in American football. The "Hail Mary pass" is a very long forward pass accompanied by a prayer that the pass be received and not intercepted. Beginning a call with, "May I speak with the business owner?" is the "Hail Mary" of sales prospecting. It is an act of desperation, not respect." https://www.therainmakergroupinc.com/human-capital-strategy-...
I'm still far from convinced this is what they mean, though. I'm still inclined to the malapropism theory.
This fits asker's interpretation but not the real meaning I suppose. As I pointed out earlier, this "... of medicine" is supposed to be a cure for cancer, a godsend and cure-all (as far as cancers are concerned) but opposite to the perceived interests of the industry who are financially far better satisfied by the existing half-cures, whereby "they make too much money from cancer". Medicine as a profession has no intention of trying to use it (according to the text), unlike the attempted though desperate far-too-long pass in Am F. Without the sentences/context provided before the "Hail Mary" sentence, that last one could be interpreted either way, with that I don't see how it could be.
there is what's known as a hail mary pass, which is essentially an attempt made 'in desperation with little chance of success'. This meaning may fit your context.
interesting! Has it ever become a synonym to the Holy Grail anywhere, I wonder? An exclamation is not a thing like "Thank God" can't be either. I'm tasting the requested phrase like "This could be the 'Thank God" of medicine" ... ;)
I have heard people (maybe Irish?) exclaim "Hail Mary!" when someone at last gets a joke or the meal arrives after a long wait etc. I assumed it meant "At last; we're saved!".
according to your text (and also some distorted logic), those companies have no interest in solving the cancer conundrum. This 'answer' is said to be a solution that they 'will never to let you see', although it could be the 'Holy Grail' of medicine. The Hail Mary is a Catholic prayer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary), I don't think it could have much symbolic meaning for any science as it is not a solution, no connotations to discoveries, no negative connotations either. On the other hand, the Holy Grail has a very old story of mystical meaning, which is established in the E lang, its original religious feeling is long lost and has the meaning of 'unbelievable', 'wonderful' panacea.
The point here is the pharmaceutical companies make alot of money from cancer patients using their drugs and orthodox treatments so they have suppressed all-natural answers to cancer (natural methods to treat cancer).
So I'm thinking Hail Mary is a slang which in this case means a danger or risk. But I'm not quite sure.
Explanation: the "hail mary" of medicine => the desperation solution for medicine
Hail Mary pass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass in American football, made in desperation with only a small chance of success. In the Hail Mary pass all receivers ...
airmailrpl Brazil Local time: 20:05 Native speaker of: English, Portuguese PRO pts in category: 44
Explanation: Once someone has placed an answer without looking at the agreement in the discussion, I feel I have to put this into the mix too. According to the text (and also some distorted logic), those companies have no interest in solving the cancer conundrum. This 'answer' is said to be a solution, which they 'will never to let you see', although it could be the 'Holy Grail' of medicine. If we put in the meaning of the Hail Mary analysed in the discussion, it becomes illogical. The Hail Mary is a Catholic prayer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary), I don't think it could have much symbolic meaning for any science as it is not a solution, no connotations to discoveries, though it has a connotation of a thanks for something that miraculously and unexpectedly happened. On the other hand, the Holy Grail has a very old story of mystical meaning, which is established in the E lang, its original religious feeling is long lost and has the meaning of 'unbelievable', 'wonderful' panacea. This was my original explanation and I stick with it. Further references can be found in Charles' and gallagy's notes and my re-phrasing. Also, religious Christians say 3 Hail Mary's AFTER they succeeded whereas here the text states this "all-natural answer to cancer" is rejected by the industry ... so it is not a successful idea. Implied meaning is a contradiction, without expressly saying, "ALTHOUGH this could be ... of medicine." Here a THANKS, or a desperation solution doesn't fit, but a real, sensational solution like a Holy Grail does. Although in vain, at the moment. Of course I understand that it would be a solution for the desperate of today. But this meaning would require quite a bit of mental gymnastics in the context provided.
Peter Simon Netherlands Local time: 01:05 Native speaker of: Hungarian PRO pts in category: 4
