on a wing and a prayer en · ADP
Etymology
Describes a damaged warplane barely able to return to base, possibly originating in the film Flying Tigers (1942) in which the dialog refers to a flight as “coming in on one wing and a prayer”, made popular by the World War II song “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer” with lyrics by Harold Adamson.
Meanings
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With the hope of averting disaster despite a desperate situation teetering on failure.
After seeing half the senior staff walk out, the school opened the new year on a wing and a prayer.
Synonyms
Translations (1)
ru на че́стном сло́ве и на одно́м крыле́ (with the hope of averting disaster despite a desperate situation teetering on failure)
wikipedia: Harold Adamson · wikipedia: Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer