empty-handed

emp·ty-hand·ed

(ĕmp′tē-hăn′dĭd)

adj.

1. Bearing nothing.

2. Having received or gained nothing.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

empty-handed

adj

1. carrying nothing in the hands

2. having gained nothing: they returned from the negotiations empty-handed.

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

emp′ty-hand′ed

adj.

1. having nothing in the hands.

2. having achieved nothing.

3. bringing no gift, donation, etc.

[1605–15]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	empty-handed - having acquired or gained nothing; "the returned from the negotiations empty-handed" unrewarded unsuccessful - not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome
	2.	empty-handed - carrying nothing in the hands empty - holding or containing nothing; "an empty glass"; "an empty room"; "full of empty seats"; "empty hours"

empty-handed

adjective with nothing, unsuccessful, with empty pockets, unprovided for Shirley returned empty-handed from her shopping trip.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

empty-handed

[ˈemptɪˈhændɪd] ADJ to arrive/leave/return empty-handed → llegar/marcharse/volver con las manos vacías

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

empty-handed

[ˌɛmptɪˈhændɪd] adj → a mani vuote
to arrive/leave empty-handed → arrivare/andarsene a mani vuote

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

empty

(ˈempti) adjective

1. having nothing inside. an empty box; an empty cup.

2. unoccupied. an empty house.

3. (with of) completely without. a street quite empty of people.

4. having no practical result; (likely to be) unfulfilled. empty threats.

verb

1. to make or become empty. He emptied the jug; The cinema emptied quickly at 10.30; He emptied out his pockets.

2. to tip, pour, or fall out of a container. She emptied the milk into a pan; The rubbish emptied on to the ground.

noun

an empty bottle etc. Take the empties back to the shop.

ˈemptiness noun

ˌempty-ˈhanded adjective

carrying nothing. I went to collect my wages but returned empty-handed.

ˌempty-ˈheaded adjective

brainless. an empty-headed young girl.

References in classic literature ?

But if the trader goes empty-handed, having nothing which they require who would supply his need, he will come back empty-handed.

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But there were no dealers with voices of ingratiating affability inviting customers to enter; there were no hawkers, nor the usual motley crowd of female purchasers- but only soldiers, in uniforms and overcoats though without muskets, entering the Bazaar empty-handed and silently making their way out through its passages with bundles.

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So, empty-handed, the messengers returned to Queen Meav.

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I feel as if I do not come to him quite empty-handed."

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Whenever the Dodger or Charley Bates came home at night, empty-handed, he would expatiate with great vehemence on the misery of idle and lazy habits; and would enforce upon them the necessity of an active life, by sending them supperless to bed.

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--and so saying I was unmethodically rushing up stairs again empty-handed, when Mrs.

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At least, and at last, I was off the sea, nor had I returned thence empty-handed. There lay the schooner, clear at last from buccaneers and ready for our own men to board and get to sea again.

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"We won't go back empty-handed," cried an English sailor; and then he spoke to one of the Indian divers.

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When Captain Bonneville saw his messengers return empty-handed, he ordered an instant move, for there was imminent danger of famine.

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One of these captains would come, in a manner, empty-handed to New Archangel.

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Professor Porter did not accompany the treasure-seekers on the following day, but when he saw them returning empty-handed toward noon, he hastened forward to meet them --his usual preoccupied indifference entirely vanished, and in its place a nervous and excited manner.

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The walls of this strange room gave the patient nothing to lay hold of, because, apart from the solid decorative object, they were simply furnished with mirrors, thick enough to withstand any onslaught of the victim, who was flung into the chamber empty-handed and barefoot.