DRAW A BLANK

v. phr. , informal 1. To obtain nothing in return for an effort made or to get a negative result. I looked up all the Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every time I asked for Archibald Jones. 2. To fail to remember something. I am trying to think of the name but I keep drawing a blank. 3. To be consistently unsuccessful at doing something. I keep trying to pass that math exam but each time I try it I draw a blank.