draw a blank

Idioms  

1. Fail to find or remember something, as in He looks familiar but I've drawn a blank on his name. This expression alludes to drawing a lottery ticket with nothing on it (so one cannot win a prize). [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

draw a blank

When I draw a blank, I don’t ask it to fill in the gap for me.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

The actor seems to draw a blank, but the camera cuts away before we find out more.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

This is why, whenever anyone asks me about favorite family dishes, I usually draw a blank and ask if Pepperidge Farm cookies count as a response.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2023

“Sometimes he’ll draw a blank, but he’s still trying.”

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2023

And in the silence, of course, you can hear a pin drop. draw a blank.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• lose consciousness
• pass out