It's common to rack one's brains over a tricky crossword clue.

One racks one's brains to remember how to solve the problem.

Racking one's brain can sometimes lead to creative solutions.

When a familiar face appears and the name won't come to mind, one racks one's brain to remember it.

One racked one's brain trying to remember the exact wording of the contract clause.

Racking one's brains is often the first step toward a creative solution.

When confronted with the puzzle, one racked one's brains for hours before finding an answer.

One may rack one's brain for days trying to solve a difficult puzzle.