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at point-blank range

if someone is shot at point-blank range, they are shot from a very short distance away. The killers walked into the bar and shot him at point-blank range.

a blank cheque

as much money to spend as is wanted or needed. We are not giving the redevelopment project a blank cheque. The organizers will be working within a strictly limited budget. (not used with the)

draw a blank

to be unable to get information, think of something, or achieve something. Ask them about the car's performance and you'll draw a blank. We've asked 2000 schools to join the campaign, but so far we've drawn a blank. (= none of them agreed)

See also: draw

fire/shoot blanks (humorous)

if a man is firing blanks, there is no sperm (= the cells which combine with the female's egg to start life) in his semen (= the liquid produced in the male sexual organs). They had a series of fertility tests done and found out that basically Tony was firing blanks. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: fire, shoot

your mind goes blank

if you are asked a question and your mind goes blank, you cannot think of anything to say. I was so nervous during the interview that when I was asked about my experience, my mind went blank.

See also: goes, mind

your mind is a blank

your mind goes blank - if you are asked a question and your mind goes blank, you cannot think of anything to say. I can't even tell you what his name was - my mind's a complete blank.

See also: mind

point blank

1. if you refuse point blank, you refuse completely and will not change your decision. He locked himself in the bathroom and refused point blank to come out.

2. if you ask or tell someone point blank about something that could upset or embarrass them, you ask or tell them directly. You'll have to ask him point blank whether he took the money or not.

See also: point

point-blank

point blank - if you refuse point blank, you refuse completely and will not change your decision. Journalists were infuriated by her point-blank refusal to discuss their divorce. (always before noun)

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draw a blank

1. to be unable to get information. Hoover asked the investigators to find out about Byrne, but they drew a blank.

2. to forget something. When Phil asked Lee which airline they were flying on, Lee drew a blank.

See also: draw

go blank

1. to become unconscious. He remembers trying to get up, and then he went blank until he woke up the next morning with a roaring headache.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form everything went blank someone became unconscious: I heard a noise behind me, and then everything went blank.

2. to stop receiving a television picture. There was a popping sound, and then the TV screen went blank.

3. to forget. He let his mind go blank and kept on walking, thinking about nothing at all.

your mind goes blank

you cannot think of anything to say. They asked me about my experience and my mind just went blank.

See also: goes, mind