draw a blank

draw a blank

1. To be unable to recall a required piece of information.

   I should know that person's name, but I'm drawing a blank.

2. To fail; not to find anything; to produce no successful response.
   • 1856, Lucius Manlius Sargent, Dealings with the Dead, volume 2, page 472:

     "Oh," she replied, "when I came to think of it, I saw, that you were right. I thought, 'twas quite likely it [the lottery ticket] would draw a blank. […] "

• brain cramp
• come up empty
• on the tip of one's tongue
• thinko