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- Believe it or not, this phrase was born out of the turbulent times of World War II. In 1942, there was a film called “The Flying Tigers,” and John Wayne’s character says, “Any word on that flight yet?” And a hotel clerk replies, “Yes sir, it was attacked and fired on by Japanese aircraft. She’s coming in on one wing and a prayer.”
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This phrase originated during WWII. The earliest reference that I can find to it is in the 1942 film The Flying Tigers. The screenplay, which was written by Kenneth Gamet and Barry Trivers, has John Wayne’s character Captain Jim Gordon says this in a reference to the flight of replacement pilots:
- Cracking The Code of “On A Wing and A Prayer”
- The Origin Behind “On A Wing and A Prayer”
- Synonyms For on A Wing and A Prayer
- Using “On A Wing and A Prayer” in Sentences
- Until We Meet Again, Possibly on A Wing and A Prayer
When someone is on a wing and a prayer, they aren’t literally soaring through the sky hoping for divine intervention. Metaphorically, the phrase is meant to represent that they’re pushing through a super challenging situation or relying heavily on hope and faith rather than a solid plan or a safety net. It’s kind of like when I published my first b...
Believe it or not, this phrase was born out of the turbulent times of World War II. In 1942, there was a film called “The Flying Tigers,” and John Wayne’s character says, “Any word on that flight yet?” And a hotel clerk replies, “Yes sir, it was attacked and fired on by Japanese aircraft. She’s coming in on one wing and a prayer.” It was also used ...
Spice up your verbal arsenal with synonyms for this phrase and break up any repetitiveness in your writing. 1. Againstall odds 2. By the skin of one’s teeth 3. In the eleventh hour 4. Hoping against hope 5. Taking a leap of faith
Now that we’ve covered the what and why, let’s jump into the how. Here are some instances of on a wing and a prayerin full sentences to give you some deeper context. 1. Despite countless obstacles, the tiny start-up endeavor stayed afloat on a wing and a prayer. 2. Brie finished the marathon on a wing and a prayer, despite running out of water and ...
And that’s a wrap on my deep dive into the phrase on a wing and a prayer. It’s meant to encapsulate the spirit of hope and perseverance that life often demands from us. So, don’t shy away from using it. And be sure to take a moment and peruse my other grammar guides!
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On a wing and a prayer. This expression describes a desperate, dire situation where one can only rely on hope and prayer. It was coined by American songwriter, Harold Adamson, in 1943 in the WWII song Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer. The song was about a bomber crew limping home in a badly damaged aircraft after a bombing raid on Germany.
Meaning. In a difficult situation and reliant on luck to get out of it. Examples. Jean was out on her feet after two miles. She was on a wing and a prayer to get to the end of the marathon. Where did it originate? USA. From a 1940s film script. Where is it used? Worldwide. Hear the idiom spoken. More idioms about. Luck. Religion. America.
On a Wing and a Payer Meaning. Definition: Relying solely on luck to get out of a difficult situation. Origin of On a Wing and a Prayer. This expression originated during World War II. It appeared in a film called The Flying Tigers in the year 1942. One of the pilots in the military had lost one wing of his plane, so he was trying to land using ...
This metaphor comes from the image of a damaged airplane attempting to land. It is believed to originate in a 1943 song titled Comin' In on a Wing and a Prayer, written by Harold Adamson (1906-80) with music by Jimmy McHugh.
It’s one of the more commonly mangled phrases in the language, frequently being said and written as “on a whim and a prayer”. One recent example was in the Daily Mail of 25 May 2004: “It does nothing to change the impression of a club stumbling along on a whim and a prayer”.
