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Glite Dictionary
to draw a blank

to draw a blank

7 4.5
Fail to remember something when you try to think of it
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : no recordar
  • Or maybe you're writing something incredible, but you suddenly draw a blank.
  • my mind drew a blank
  • I just drew a blank
  • drew a blank on her name

But I'm completely drawing a blank.

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Examples

  • I'm afraid we've drawn a blank.

    The World's End (2013)

  • But I was drawing a blank on just what had happened to her.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • I mean, the very words "the truth is" make him draw a blank.

    Two Girls and a Guy (1998)

  • - I drew a blank.

    Stir Crazy (1980)

  • After that, my mind draws a blank.

    The Prototype (2022)

  • - I'm drawing a blank.

    The Fisher King (1991)

  • "I'm drawing a blank," she admitted at last.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • I'm sorry, I'm totally drawing a blank.

    Miss Congeniality (2000)

  • But when they tried to visualize their fellow residents and identify who among them might be newsworthy, they drew a blank.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • During the exam, I tried to remember the formula, but I draw a blank.

Synonyms

to forget
vsto draw a blank
∞ 1.0

Not remember something you should remember

is focused on failing to recall while trying often sudden or under pressure
to don't have a clue
vsto draw a blank
80 6.4

To not know anything about a subject or situation

is a temporary inability to recall an answer while trying not total ignorance
to totally forgot
vsto draw a blank
  • Informal
30 1.8

Do not remember something at all

is about failing to recall when trying not just forgetting earlier
to be stumped
vsto draw a blank
  • Informal
15 6.4

Cannot think of an answer or solution

is more about failing to remember an answer when trying rather than general puzzlement
to blank out
vsto draw a blank
  • Informal
1 6.3

To suddenly be unable to remember something for a short time

is an inability to recall during an attempted answer rather than general blocking
to totes forget
vsto draw a blank
  • Informal
9.9

To not remember something at all

is the same complete recall failure but in informal style

Antonyms

to remember
∞ 1.0

To think about something from the past

How Remembered

to remember
∞ 1.0
to recall
∞ 2.4
to forget
∞ 1.0
to draw a blank
  • Informal
7 4.5
to totes forget
  • Informal
9.9

Surface Forms

draw a blank infinitive
drawing a blank present participle
draws a blank third person singular
drew a blank past
drawn a blank past participle

Morphology

draw + a + blank

The components 'draw' (to produce/obtain) and 'blank' (nothing/empty) yield a sensible image of 'producing nothing', so a B1 learner who knows the words could plausibly infer that it means coming up with nothing. However, the specific mapping to the memory/recall context (failing to remember or think of an answer) is metaphorical and requires some exposure to be fully understood. Because the sense is partly predictable but not fully literal or universal, it is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Draw a blank comes from the image of reaching into a hat or box and drawing a blank slip of paper — you pull out nothing useful. So, when someone 'draws a blank' today, they are 'unable to think of an answer'.