draw a blank

draw a blank
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.

* * *
{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. * /I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones./ 2. To fail to remember something. * /I am trying to think of the name but I keep drawing a blank./ 3. To be consistently unsuccessful at doing something. * /I keep trying to pass that math exam but each time I try it I draw a blank./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • draw a blank — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. * /I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones./ 2. To fail to remember something …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • draw a blank — If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don t get any useful information …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • draw a blank — ► draw a blank fail to obtain a favourable response. Main Entry: ↑blank …   English terms dictionary

  • draw a blank — verb be unable to remember I m drawing a blank You are blocking the name of your first wife! • Syn: ↑forget, ↑block, ↑blank out • Ant: ↑remember (for: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • draw a blank —    If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don t get any useful information.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you look for or try to remember something, and draw a blank, you fail to find it.     I nearly won the quiz;… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • draw\ a\ blank — v. phr. informal 1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones. 2. To fail to remember something. I am… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • draw a blank — idi a) to be unsuccessful: to draw a blank in an investigation[/ex] b) to fail to comprehend or remember: I drew a blank on her name[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • Draw a blank —   If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don t get any useful information …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • draw a blank — be unable to think of an answer, mind go blank    For some reason, I drew a blank when the professor questioned me …   English idioms

  • 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 …   New idioms dictionary

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