draw a blank 的字面意思是“抽空签”,表示没有得到答案或结果,或忘记某事或某人,可以意为“无回音,无结果,一无所获,脑袋一片空白,忘得一干二净”等,寓意:

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to get no response from someone

没得到某人的反应

to not be able to say anything

什么都说不出来

to not be able to find anything

找不到任何东西

to be unresponsive

无反应

to stop or to halt entirely

停止或完全停止

be unable to get information

无法获取信息

例如:

He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank - I just couldn't remember it.

他要我的电话号码,我没有回答,我就是想不起来。

He said we'd met before, but I just drew a blank .

他说我们以前见过面,但我却忘得一干二净。

解析:主句的动作 said 是过去时,一般来说宾语从句 we'd met before 也要用过去时,从 before 可以看出,met 的动作发生在 said 之前,所以宾语从句用过去完成时。

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My husband drew a blank when we were getting interviewed at my daughter's school. I really hope that she gets in now.

当我们在我女儿的学校接受面试时,我丈夫脑袋一片空白。我真的希望我的女人现在能进来。

He has massive stage fright and always draws a blank when he is up there.

他对舞台极度恐惧,并且在舞台上的时候脑袋总是一片空白。

The prime minister can give a speech totally unprepared. He never draws a blank on stage.

首相毫无准备,在舞台上思如泉涌地发言。

解析:形容词短语 totally unprepared 在句中作状语,表示伴随,位置灵活,位于句首和句尾,有的时候还可以位于句中;若觉得阅读起来费解,可以改成:

Totally unprepared, the prime minister can give a speech.

The investigation drew a blank after the key witness was killed in an accident.

关键证人在一次事故中丧生后,调查一无所获。