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Literary term for 'hail mary'

Crumbly Writer 🚫

Can anyone recall the literary term for a literary hail mary (i.e. when you pull a rabbit out of the hat in order to justify a half-baked exit from painting yourself into the corner.

I know there's a specific term, apart from the obvious U.S. football phrase, but I haven't been able to find it.

Dominions Son 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

apart from the obvious U.S. football phrase

"Hail Mary" is a form of Catholic prayer. In US football it refers to an extreme long-shot play, as in the success of the play depends on "and then a miracle happens".

So perhaps what you are looking for is "Dues Ex Machina".

Replies:   Crumbly Writer  GreyWolf
Crumbly Writer 🚫

@Dominions Son

Duh! Of course! So, can anyone kindly explain why such a commonly used term can so suddenly evaporate from one's nogginβ€”aside from age (or Covid) related dementia, that is?

Replies:   joyR  bk69
joyR 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

Have you considered that parts of the brain are basically data storage and that once full certain parts are simply overwritten with new data?

:)

Replies:   Crumbly Writer
Crumbly Writer 🚫

@joyR

Have you considered that parts of the brain are basically data storage and that once full certain parts are simply overwritten with new data?

I'm reminded of it all the time, and it's actually Asperger's brain, as mine is filled with obscure trivia, while I can't for the life of me recall the names of the members of my family, when they were born or when weddings and anniversaries are.

Yet, I can watch a rerun of the original Law & Order series, and will recall each and every episode, though not having viewed them in the last twenty or thirty years.

What I really need is an updated queuing manager!

Replies:   joyR
joyR 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

What I really need is an updated queuing manager!

From anyone else that would sound like they wanted a new greeter at their local 'Hooters'. Rather than a need for updateRDQMsupport.

bk69 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

Copious drug and/or alcohol use? Brain fart? CTE?

Replies:   Keet
Keet 🚫

@bk69

Copious drug and/or alcohol use? Brain fart? CTE?

I had to look up CTE. Urban Dictionary had the answer. The funny thing is it had a new urban word under the answer:
vaxhole
One who has been fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus and brags about it.

Replies:   joyR  Dominions Son
joyR 🚫

@Keet

The funny thing is it had a new urban word under the answer:

Weird, I tried UD and it offered up "aftergasm".

Replies:   Keet
Keet 🚫

@joyR

Weird, I tried UD and it offered up "aftergasm".

It's always different. Refresh the page and you will probably get another one.

Replies:   joyR
joyR 🚫

@Keet

Refresh the page and you will probably get another one.

Multiple aftergasms...!!!!

Thank you.

:)

Dominions Son 🚫

@Keet

I had to look up CTE. Urban Dictionary had the answer.

I googled CTE and the first answer up is not from Urban Dictionary, but probably is what BK was referring to.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy AKA Drain Bamage from repeated head injuries.

Replies:   Keet
Keet 🚫

@Dominions Son

I googled CTE and the first answer up is not from Urban Dictionary, but probably is what BK was referring to.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy AKA Drain Bamage from repeated head injuries.

That's what Urban Dictionary said too.

GreyWolf 🚫

@Dominions Son

Dues Ex Machina

I think that's money paid via machine :)

Replies:   Crumbly Writer
Crumbly Writer 🚫

@GreyWolf

Dues Ex Machina

I think that's money paid via machine :)

Either that, or two broken machines (cash dispensers) sitting side by side.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

deus ex machina

literally means 'God Machine.' It refers to when something comes in from far left field without any prior indication it exists and it resolves a virtually unresolvable plot problem.

In some of the early western films they used the Cavalry charging in to save the day at the last minute despite them last being heard of as being hundreds of miles away or not even been mentioned in the story until they turn up at the last second.

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son 🚫
Updated:

@Ernest Bywater

deus ex machina

literally means 'God Machine.' It refers to when something comes in from far left field without any prior indication it exists and it resolves a virtually unresolvable plot problem.

As I understand it, the literal translation is "god from the machine", not "god machine".

deus ex machina

Originates from the ancient Greek playwrights.

In the Greek myths, the gods frequently intervened in human affairs. And the Greek playwrights used this in their plays, using "literal" divine intervention to solve some predicament in which their protagonist was stuck.

This was implemented in stage productions by having an actor portraying one of the Greek gods raised/lowered from below/above the stage using some machine, thus literally god from the machine.

Remus2 🚫
Updated:

@Crumbly Writer

In the south, just have someone say "hold my beer, watch this" and everyone in ear shot will focus on that person.

Replies:   Tw0Cr0ws
Tw0Cr0ws 🚫

@Remus2

"hold my beer, watch this"

I'll take Famous Last Words for $200 Alex.

Replies:   mauidreamer
mauidreamer 🚫
Updated:

@Tw0Cr0ws

"Sorry TC, that was "once more unto the breach ...

{-;

joyR 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

"Never in the field of federal misappropriation was so much stolen from so many by so few"

joyR 🚫

@Crumbly Writer

"Lede us not into procrastination" ??

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