draw a blank
To be unable to recall a required piece of information.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I drew a blank when she asked for his name.”
“You often draw a blank when you are under a lot of stress.”
“During the exam, I completely drew a blank and couldn't remember the formula.”
“I tried to log into my bank account this morning, but I drew a blank when the screen asked for my new password.”
“The detective asked the witness for a description of the car, but the man drew a blank because the street was so dark.”
“Despite having rehearsed his speech for hours, the nervous speaker drew a blank the moment he stepped onto the stage.”
disputed origin
Probably derived from the mechanics of an old-fashioned lottery, wherein a participant would draw a ticket from a drum only to find no prize recorded upon it. The drawing of a blank ticket signified a loss, the ticket itself being void of value or information. The phrase likely migrated from the disappointment of the lottery hall to the general failure of memory or effort, though the specific transition remains unproven.
- 01
blank out
To become blank.
- 02
draw a line
To delimit a boundary or border.
- 03
draw a long bow
To lie; to exaggerate.
- 04
draw a straight furrow
To live correctly or ethically, without deviating from the right line of duty.
- 05
draw even
To attain the same level as a competitor.
- 06
draw fire
To create a distraction that allows one's friends, co-workers, or other associates to gain an advantage over the distracted party.
- 07
draw in
To attract.
- 08
draw off
To remove by using a siphon.
Last updated August 10, 2026