English learners very often don’t remember the words they want to say. That’s when this phrase is especially useful:

MY MIND GOES BLANK / MY MIND IS A BLANK

If your mind goes blank (also is a blank), you suddenly cannot remember something or think of what you want to say.

Examples

I tried to remember her name, but my mind went completely blank.
I tried to remember her name, but my mind was a complete blank.

For some reason, her mind went completely blank.
For some reason, her mind was a blank.

I went blank and couldn’t think of a single example.

When she asked me his name, my mind went blank.

💡 Notice

My mind went blank = I suddenly couldn’t remember or think of anything.

We can use different tenses:

• My mind goes blank. → present / something that happens regularly
• My mind is blank. → my mind is empty right now
• My mind went blank. → it happened in the past
• My mind has gone blank. → it has happened and the result is still relevant now

BLANK — VERB (FORGET)

To blank can also be used as a verb meaning to forget something that you know, especially temporarily.

When he tried to remember the lyrics, he blanked.

I completely blanked on his name.

💡 Notice the preposition

We commonly say:

blank on + something

I blanked on his name.

She blanked on the answer.

PRACTICE 1 — COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Complete the sentences with:

goes blank — went blank — blanked — blanked on

1. Every time I have to speak in front of a large group, my mind __________.
2. When the teacher asked me the answer, my mind __________.
3. I knew his name, but I completely __________ it.
4. I was trying to remember her name, but I __________.
5. He knew the answer, but he __________ during the exam.
6. My mind sometimes __________ when I’m nervous.

PRACTICE 2 — CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION

1. When I get nervous, my mind goes blank / blanks on.
2. I completely blanked on / went blank on her name.
3. When he asked me the question, my mind went blank / blanked on.
4. She knew the answer, but she blanked / was a blank during the test.
5. My mind is a blank / blanks on right now. I can’t think of anything.

PRACTICE 3 — CORRECT THE MISTAKES

Correct the sentences.

1. My mind blanked when she asked me the question.
2. I blanked her name.
3. My mind goes blanked when I’m nervous.
4. My mind was completely went blank.
5. I blanked on to his name.

PRACTICE 4 — REWRITE THE SENTENCES

Rewrite each sentence using the expression in parentheses.

Example:

I suddenly couldn’t remember his name.
(my mind went blank)

→ My mind went blank when I tried to remember his name.

1. I suddenly couldn’t remember the word I wanted to use.
   (my mind went blank)
2. I couldn’t remember her name.
   (blanked on)
3. I suddenly couldn’t think of an example.
   (went blank)
4. I forgot the answer even though I knew it.
   (blanked)

PRACTICE 5 — COMPLETE THE DIALOGUES

1.

A: What happened? You suddenly stopped talking.

B: Sorry! My __________________________.

2.

A: Do you remember her name?

B: I know it! But I completely __________________________.

3.

A: Did you know the answer to the question?

B: Yes, I did! But when the teacher asked me, __________________________.

PRACTICE 6 — PERSONALIZE IT

Answer the questions using the expressions from this lesson.

1. When does your mind usually go blank?
2. Have you ever blanked on someone’s name?
3. Have you ever blanked during an English class?
4. What do you do when your mind goes blank?
5. Can you remember a funny situation when your mind went blank?

PRACTICE 7 — SPEAKING CHALLENGE

Imagine you are having a conversation in English.

You want to say:

“Eu sabia o nome dela, mas deu um branco.”

Say it naturally in English.

→ __________________________________________

Now say:

“Quando fico nervosa, minha mente fica em branco.”

→ __________________________________________

AND NOW…

If you have already learned the phrase my mind goes blank, what about learning another one that will tell you what you have to do when your mind goes blank?

Listen carefully and take notes.

🎧 RACK MY BRAIN

Meaning of RACK MY BRAIN and MY MIND WENT BLANK — A Really Short English Lesson with Subtitles

Before watching

Think about this question:

What do you usually do when your mind goes blank and you can’t remember something?

While watching

Take notes about:

1. What does rack my brain mean?
2. What is the difference between my mind went blank and rack my brain?
3. Can you remember an example from the video?

After watching

Complete the sentence:

When my mind goes blank, I __________________________.

Then create your own example using both expressions:

My mind went blank, so I ____________________________________.

QUICK REVIEW

My mind goes blank.

= I suddenly can’t remember or think of something.

My mind went blank.

= I suddenly couldn’t remember or think of something.

I blanked.

= I temporarily forgot something.

I blanked on his name.

= It is useful in a particular situation.

Next expression:

rack my brain
= try very hard to remember or think of something