Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 12:06:24 -0500

From: Tom Beckner TMBECKNER[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]TAYLORU.EDU

Subject: Re: wing and a prayer



While I can't speak to the origins of this statement, I can testify to having

heard it often as I grew up (SW Ohio). I always thought the "wing" was

related to another expression, "to wing it," to act spontaneously or to

function without some sense of formal knowledge or experience. The "prayer"

was a bit more than hope, though; it meant a literal prayer to a power

greater than oneself for protection or for auccess in the unknown venture

or unchartered territory. Woops, success in the sentence above.