Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

draw a blank

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.06 in modern English

Syllables: draw a blank
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be unable to recall a required piece of information.

verb

To fail; not to find anything; to produce no successful response.

Example Sentences

"I should know that person's name, but I'm drawing a blank."
""Oh," she replied, "when I came to think of it, I saw, that you were right. I thought, 'twas quite likely it [the lottery ticket] would draw a blank.[…]""
"When she brainstormed about what else she would do, where else she would go, her mind drew a blank."

Etymology

Probably from the idea of drawing of a blank (losing) ticket in an old-fashioned lottery.

Inflected Forms

draws a blank (present, singular) drawing a blank (participle, present) drew a blank (past) drawn a blank (participle, past)

Phrases

brain cramp come up empty draw blank on the tip of one's tongue

Frequently Paired Words

brain cramp come up empty draw blank on the tip of one's tongue thinko

Synonyms

forget block blank out

Questions

What does draw a blank mean?: To be unable to recall a required piece of information.
Where does draw a blank come from?: Probably from the idea of drawing of a blank (losing) ticket in an old-fashioned lottery.

How to pronounce draw a blank

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