draw a blank

1. When trying to recall something, to be unable to think of anything at all. I'm sorry, I'm drawing a blank—what's your name again? I actually did know the answer to that question, I just drew a blank when the teacher called on me, OK? You know what show I'm talking about. Ah, I'm totally drawing a blank on the name!

2. To be unable to find something. Mom, I looked for those Christmas decorations all over the house, but I've drawn a blank. Are you sure you didn't give them to Grandma? I did go to your locker, but I drew a blank—no Chem notes. Have you seen my purple sweater? I pretty much ransacked my closet and still drew a blank.

See also: blank, draw

draw a blank

1. . Fig. to get no response; to find nothing. I asked him about Tom's financial problems, and I just drew a blank. We looked in the files for an hour, but we drew a blank.

2. Fig. to fail to remember something. I tried to remember her telephone number, but I could only draw a blank. It was a very hard test with just one question to answer, and I drew a blank.

See also: blank, draw

draw a blank

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]

See also: blank, draw

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

draw a blank

COMMON

1. If you are trying to find someone or something and you draw a blank, you cannot find them. Note: Originally, to draw a blank meant to be given a losing ticket in a lottery. I searched among the bottles and drew a blank.

2. If you are trying to find out about something and you draw a blank, you fail to find out about it. Note: Originally, to draw a blank meant to be given a losing ticket in a lottery. We asked if they'd been in. We drew a blank.

3. If you draw a blank, you are unable to remember something or to answer a question you are asked. Note: Originally, to draw a blank meant to be given a losing ticket in a lottery. Asked what her son's first words were, Deirdre drew a blank. Why do we recognise a face, but sometimes draw a blank when it comes to the name?

4. In a sporting contest, if a team or competitor draws a blank, they do not score any goals or points, or win any races. Note: Originally, to draw a blank meant to be given a losing ticket in a lottery. Goal-shy Raith drew a blank at home yet again. He now leads Pat Eddery, who drew a blank in the title race.

See also: blank, draw

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

draw a blank

elicit no response; be unsuccessful.

A blank was originally a lottery ticket that did not win a prize.

See also: blank, draw

draw a ˈblank

not find something that you are looking for: There was no sign of the murder weapon. The police searched every inch of the forest but drew a blank.

See also: blank, draw

draw a blank

To fail to find or remember something.

See also: blank, draw

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

draw a blank, to

To be unable to remember or to find something. The term refers to a losing ticket in a lottery, which has no number printed on it—that is, it is blank. It first appeared in print in the early nineteenth century.