fill in the blank

fill in the blank

1. To provide information or details, usually by actually writing something in a blank space on a test, form, etc. Fill in the blank with what you think is the correct answer.
2. To figure something out; to determine an answer to something that was previously unknown. My parents may not know who dented the car now, but they'll fill in the blank eventually.
See also: blank, fill

fill in the blank(s)

1. verb Literally, to complete a statement by adding information to a space that has been intentionally left empty or blank. The instructions at the top of the test sheet told us to fill in the blanks with the correct information about World War I.
2. expression A phrase used when one does not supply all the necessary information, instead relying on the listener to infer the missing details. A: "What happened last night between Katie and Rob? I saw them leave the bar together." B: "What do you think happened? She went home with him—fill in the blanks!"
See also: fill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • fill in the blank(s)
  • fill out
  • fill in
  • fill in the details
  • a blank check
  • blank check
  • cheque
  • a blank cheque
  • give a blank check to (one)
  • blank
References in periodicals archive
A pair of French researchers contend that an analysis of the yearly grape-harvest dates in Europe could help climatologists fill in the blanks of the continent's postmedieval climate records.
Grape-harvest dates hold climate clues. (Earth Science)
Just as filling in more blanks in the crossword puzzle makes it easier to figure out those difficult words you originally don't know, so also getting more information in the story makes it easier to "fill in the blanks" of a situation you originally have never heard of.
THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE AS METAPHOR FOR READING THE NEWS
He never did fill in the blanks and ended up content only with Vollard's shirtfront.
"CEZANNE: FINISHED -- UNFINISHED"
They look at the numbers from similar stations and try to find common patterns to fill in the blanks. "The reconstructed time-series behaves as if the station observed weather under its current conditions throughout its history," according to information posted on AIR's Web site.
Forecasting Profits
We had loads of great entries for last week's competition on consequences when we asked you to fill in the blanks.
Johnny Vaughan Column: After a hole lot of fun with Andy, get fresh with Denzel
"It took about four years to fill in the blanks about who these people were."
Two for the road
Highlight cells to format Choose Format, Conditional Formatting Fill in the blanks Click OK
Sharpen spreadsheet skills
Check out what drugs can do to the brain, then fill in the blanks in the box below.
Drugs change your brain: drug abusers may alter their brains forever
To win this valuable curiosity/ autograph/slice of movie history - with massive bulls**t potential - (I mean, how do you explain a box of tissues by your bed signed by a Hollywood starlet?) all you have to do is fill in the blanks to this game of "consequences":
Johnny Vaughan column: Winner in battle of Wills
These forms greatly simplify the appellate process and merely require that each party fill in the blanks. Also, either party may withdraw from the process at any time before reaching a settlement simply by notifying the other party and the mediator in writing.
Mediation procedures
Later passes should fill in the blanks. On these mappings, scientists will aim the radar at different angles to create stereographic, three-dimensional radar images and gain a more precise view of the planet's small-scale surface features.
Radar-mapper Magellan orbits Venus
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
Ever Had a Bad Hair Day?