he drew a blank

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he drew a blank" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone is unable to remember something or comes up with no response or idea. Example: "During the quiz, he drew a blank when asked about the capital of France."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

He drew a blank.

The New Yorker

Mostly, he drew a blank.

The New Yorker

When I asked Federer if he saw his influence in younger players, he drew a blank.

The New York Times - Magazine

When the I.C.R.C. officers there asked him his parents' and his siblings' names, and where they were from in Rwanda, he drew a blank.

The New Yorker

Appolaro, the county chairman, told me that Lazio "is recognized as someone who listens to his conscience," but when I asked for an example, he drew a blank.

The New York Times - Magazine

He drew a blank at Royal Ascot, for the first time in 16 years, but nearly a third of his winners in 2011 have arrived this month, and it is time to start gathering in the Group Ones, too.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

When asked what he's been enjoying lately, he draws a blank.

The Guardian

When I ask him to name another TV show he likes, he comes up with The Sopranos, Deadwood and Shameless; when I ask him to name a show he thinks compares to The Wire, he draws a blank.

Independent

His penchant for simplification and wry use of symbolic language permeates skate and streetwear staples, but when I ask him to speculate about his influence on emerging artists, he draws a blank. .

Vice

For a moment, she drew a blank.

The New York Times

But they drew a blank.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he drew a blank" when you want to convey a sudden inability to remember something, especially after being prompted with a question or specific request.

Common error

Avoid using "he drew a blank" when describing a general lack of knowledge; instead, reserve it for situations where there's an expectation of recall that's suddenly unmet. It's not about lacking information but about failing to retrieve it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he drew a blank" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate a failure to recall something or a lack of response. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"He drew a blank" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe a situation where someone is unable to remember something or provide an answer. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage and grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it carries a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives like "he couldn't remember" or "his mind went blank" exist, understanding the specific nuance of a sudden, unexpected failure to recall is key to using this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his mind went blank

Describes the sensation of having no thoughts.

he couldn't remember

Focuses on the inability to recall information.

he blanked out

A shorter, more informal way of saying his mind went blank.

he had a memory lapse

Emphasizes a temporary failure of memory.

he couldn't recall anything

Highlights the complete absence of memory related to a specific topic.

he was at a loss for words

Indicates an inability to speak due to confusion or lack of knowledge.

he failed to recollect

A more formal way of saying he couldn't remember.

he couldn't think of anything

Focuses on the failure to generate any ideas or responses.

he was stumped

Indicates a state of being unable to solve a problem or answer a question.

he drew a complete zero

Replaces "blank" with "zero" conveying the idea of an empty result.

FAQs

What does "he drew a blank" mean?

The phrase "he drew a blank" means that someone was unable to remember something or failed to produce an answer or response. It suggests a temporary lapse in memory or a lack of ideas.

How can I use "he drew a blank" in a sentence?

You can use "he drew a blank" like this: "When the teacher asked him about the historical event, "he drew a blank" and couldn't answer." Or, "During the test, "he drew a blank" on the final question."

What can I say instead of "he drew a blank"?

You can use alternatives like "he couldn't remember", "his mind went blank", or "he was at a loss for words" depending on the context.

Is "he drew a blank" an idiom?

Yes, "he drew a blank" is an idiom. It's a common expression with a figurative meaning that differs from the literal meaning of the individual words.