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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Draw a blank

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To fail to remember something or find the answer or result you need.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. I knew the author’s name yesterday, but I drew a blank when someone asked me.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To fail to remember something or find the answer or result you need.
Show the answer

Draw a blank — To fail to remember something or find the answer or result you need.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Draw a blank” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To fail to remember something or find the answer or result you need.

Compare: I knew the author’s name yesterday, but I drew a blank when someone asked me.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it informally for a temporary memory failure or an unsuccessful search. Context tells the listener which meaning applies.

More examples in context

  • We checked three shops for the replacement part and drew a blank.
  • My mind went quiet during the quiz, and I drew a blank on the final question.

Usage note

Use drew a blank in the past and drawn a blank after have. This expression is about getting no answer or result, not drawing a picture.

A short conversation

A: Do you remember the title of the book?
B: I am drawing a blank, although I can picture the cover.
A: Let us check your reading list.

One more practice question

What does “I drew a blank when asked for the name” mean?

A. I could not remember or supply the name.
B. I immediately gave the correct name.

Check your answer

A. The speaker failed to retrieve the information.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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