draw a blank Definition

blank
adj blanker, blankest

1. Said of paper: not written or printed on.

Thesaurus: white, clear, fresh, unused, virgin, plain, empty, unmarked, untouched, spotless; Antonym: used, inscribed, printed.
2. Said of magnetic tape, etc: with no sound or pictures yet recorded on it.
3. With spaces left for details, information, a signature, etc.

Example: a blank form
4. Not filled in; empty.

Example: Leave that space blank
5. Showing no expression or interest.

Example: a blank look
Thesaurus: void, barren, vacant, expressionless, enigmatic, poker-faced, vacuous, hollow, meaningless, inscrutable; Antonym: expressive.
6. Having no thoughts or ideas.

Example: My mind went blank
7. Without a break or relieving feature.

Example: a blank wall
8. Sheer; absolute.

Example: blank refusal

noun

1. An empty space; a void.

Thesaurus: void, cavity, abyss, emptiness, nothingness, space, gap, vacuity, tabula rasa.
2. An empty space left (on forms, etc) to be filled in with particular information.
3. A printed form with blank spaces left for filling in.

Thesaurus: form, questionnaire, data sheet.
4. A state of having no thoughts or ideas.

Example: My mind went a complete blank
5. A dash written in place of a word or letter.
6. A blank cartridge.
7. A roughly-shaped piece eg of metal, to be processed into a finished article.

verb blanked, blanking

1. To hide it or form a screen in front of it.

Form: blank something off (usually)
Form: blank something out
tr & intr
2. To produce blanks (sense 7) in a manufacturing process.

Derivative: blankly
adverb

Derivative: blankness
noun

Idiom: draw a blank

colloq
To get no results; to fail.

Etymology: 14c in the original sense of ‘white' or ‘colourless': from French blanc white.

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draw
verb drew (past tense), drawn (past participle), drawing (present participle)

tr & intr
1. To make a picture of something or someone, especially with a pencil.

Thesaurus: sketch, draft, outline, form, etch, depict, portray, describe, caricature.
2. To pull out, take out or extract something.

Example: draw water from a well
Example: with swords drawn
intr
3. To move or proceed steadily in a specified direction.

Example: draw nearer
4. To pull someone along or into a particular position.

Example: drawing her closer to him
Thesaurus: pull, drag, bring, tug, lug, tow, carry, jerk, wrench, yank, trawl, haul.
5. To open or close (curtains).
6. To attract (eg attention or criticism).

Thesaurus: lure, attract, allure, entice, persuade, influence, fascinate.
tr & intr
7. To end a game with neither side winning; to finish on equal terms with an opponent.

Form: draw with someone (also)
8. To choose or be given as the result of random selection.
9. To arrive at or infer (a conclusion).
intr
10a. )to suck air (through a cigarette);

Form: draw on (a cigarette (also)
10b. Said of a chimney: to make air flow through a fire, allowing burning.
11. technical
Said of a ship: to require (a certain depth of water) to float.
intr
12. Said of tea: to brew or infuse.
13. To disembowel.

Example: hanged, drawn and quartered
14. To write (a cheque).
15. golf.
To hit (the ball) too much to the left if right-handed, or too much to the right if left-handed.
16a. bowls.
To deliver (a bowl) so that it moves in a curve to the point aimed for;
intr
16b. bowls.
To move in a curve to the point aimed for.
17. bridge.
To force one's opponents to play (all their cards of a suit, especially trumps) by continually leading cards of that suit.
18. billiards.
To hit (the cue ball) so that it recoils after striking another ball.

noun

1. A result in which neither side is the winner; a tie.

Thesaurus: stalemate, tie, impasse, deadlock.
2a. The making of a random selection, eg of the winners of a competition;
2b. A competition with winners chosen at random.
3. The potential to attract many people, or a person or thing having this.

Thesaurus: appeal, lure, enticement, bait, attraction, pull, interest.
4. The act of drawing a gun.

Idiom: be drawn on something

To be persuaded to talk or give information.
Example: He refused to be drawn on his plans

Idiom: draw a blank

To get no result.

Idiom: draw the line

To fix a limit, eg on one's actions or tolerance.
Thesaurus: say no, set a limit, lay down the law, put one's foot down.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon dragan.

Phrasal Verb: draw back

To retreat; to recoil.

Phrasal Verb: draw back from something

To refuse to become involved in it; to avoid commitment.

Phrasal Verb: draw in

Said of nights: to start earlier, making days shorter.

Phrasal Verb: draw on something

To make use of assets from a fund or source.
Example: draw on reserves of energy

Phrasal Verb: draw someone out

To encourage them to be less shy or reserved.

Phrasal Verb: draw something out

To make it last a long time or longer than necessary.

Phrasal Verb: draw up

To come to a halt.

Phrasal Verb: draw oneself up

To lift oneself into an upright position; to straighten up.

Phrasal Verb: draw something up

To plan and write (a contract or other document).