come up blank

USAGE SUMMARY

"come up blank" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe when someone cannot remember or find something they were looking for. For example, "When I was asked to answer the question, I came up blank."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I don't want to contemplate the possibility too deeply that one week I'll come up blank".

The Guardian - Books

In China, search requests that include words like "Tiananmen Square massacre" or "Dalai Lama" come up blank.

The New York Times

The problem isn't in forgetting a name; it's what we do when we suddenly come up blank.

Harvard Business Review

Therapists and law-enforcement officers might come up blank on that one, but no motive is beyond the grasp of an imaginative fiction writer.

The New York Times - Books

Efforts to find Europe's lost comet lander, Philae, have come up blank.

BBC

Will the results screen just come up blank?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Nate comes up blank.

The New Yorker

I came up blank.

The New York Times

June came up blank once, twice.

The New York Times

He tried to read what was there but came up blank.

The New Yorker

When we asked Bruce McCall for an idea for a golf cover, he came up blank.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "come up blank", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is failing to recall, find, or produce. For example, "I tried to remember her name, but I came up blank."

Common error

Avoid using "come up blank" when the situation involves a temporary delay rather than a complete failure to recall or find something. For example, don't say "I came up blank for a moment" if you eventually remembered the information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come up blank" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a failure to produce a result, recall information, or find something after an attempt. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common expression used to describe these situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

23%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come up blank" functions as a phrasal verb to describe a failure to recall something, find something, or produce a result. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage. It's considered grammatically correct and is widely used in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Wiki sources. Alternative expressions include "draw a blank", "cannot recall", and "find nothing". When using this phrase, make sure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is failing to recall, find, or produce.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draw a blank

This phrase is a more concise and idiomatic way of saying one couldn't recall something.

cannot recall

This is a more formal and direct way of saying that one is unable to remember something.

fail to remember

Similar to "cannot recall", but slightly less formal.

find nothing

This alternative emphasizes the inability to locate or discover something.

yield no results

This phrase is often used when a search or investigation doesn't produce any findings.

get nowhere

This implies a lack of progress or success in an effort.

strike out

This is an informal phrase that means to fail in an attempt.

be unable to think of

This describes the inability to generate an idea or solution.

draw a zero

Emphasizes getting a null or empty outcome.

discover nothing

Implies the absence of any findings from research or investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "come up blank" in a sentence?

You can use "come up blank" to describe instances where you fail to recall something, like: "When asked about my accomplishments, I "came up blank"." It can also describe failing to find something, such as: "Searches for the missing file "came up blank"."

What are some alternatives to "come up blank"?

Alternatives to "come up blank" include "draw a blank", "cannot recall", or "find nothing". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "came up blank" or "comes up blank"?

Both "came up blank" and "comes up blank" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Came up blank" is the past tense (e.g. "I came up blank when I tried to remember her name"), while "comes up blank" is the present tense, typically used for habitual actions or general truths (e.g. "He always comes up blank when asked about his childhood").

What does it mean to "come up blank" in a search?

When a search "comes up blank", it means that the search query did not produce any relevant results. For example, "I tried searching for the document, but the search "came up blank"."