- Meaning
- This idiom describes failing to recall or find an answer, as if drawing a blank ticket in a lottery with no prize. It conveys mental blockage or failure, often used in personal, academic, or professional contexts to depict memory lapses or dead ends. The phrase carries a tone of frustration, resignation, or mild humor, reflecting cultural values of knowledge and the human tendency to forget. Its lottery imagery evokes a futile draw, resonating in scenarios like quizzes or searches. The idiom captures mental voids, making it a vivid metaphor for forgetfulness.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 16th-century England, tied to lotteries where ‘blanks’ were losing tickets, as noted in Elizabethan records. Its metaphorical use emerged in the 19th century, with *The Times* (1820s) using it for memory failures. The idiom gained traction in the 20th century, amplified by education and media, notably in *The New York Times* for academic contexts. Its adoption across English-speaking cultures stems from its clear imagery and relevance to mental blocks, especially in the U.K. and U.S.
- Variants
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- Drawing a blank
- Drew a blank
- Draw blanks
- Examples
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- I drew a blank when asked about the meeting details.
- Drawing a blank, she couldn’t recall the client’s name.
- He drew blanks trying to remember the formula.
- Draw a blank, did you, on that trivia question?
- They were drawing a blank on where they parked the car.
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