drew a blank

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiominformal

   Was unable to remember something or find an answer, however hard you tried.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: the subject is the person who cannot remember, as in 'I drew a blank'.

   Patterns

   • someone drew a blank
   • draw a blank on something
   • draw a blank when something happens

   I drew a blank when the teacher asked for my old address.

   She drew a blank on his name, even though they had just met.

   He tried to recall the password but drew a blank.

2. 2phraseidiominformal

   Got no result or response from a search or inquiry.

   Grammar: Often used about searches or requests: the effort produced nothing.

   Patterns

   • someone drew a blank on something
   • draw a blank in a search

   The police drew a blank in their search for witnesses.

   We called three hotels and drew a blank every time.

Word forms

Common combinations

draw a blank on a name

I always draw a blank on names at parties.

draw a blank in an exam

He drew a blank in the exam and left early.

completely draw a blank

I completely drew a blank when she asked me the date.

draw a blank with a search

They drew a blank with their online search.

Synonyms and how they differ

forget

Forget is the plain verb for not remembering; 'draw a blank' stresses the failed effort to recall something at that moment.

come up empty

Come up empty means a search found nothing; it fits searches and inquiries better than memory.

Opposites

Word family

blank adjective

Empty or without writing, as in a blank page.

blank noun

An empty space on a form, or a moment of no memory.

Commonly confused: drew a blank or draw a bath? drew a blank or draw the line?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “drew a blank”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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