Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Bearing nothing.
- adjective Having received or gained nothing.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having nothing in the hands; specifically, carrying or bringing nothing of value, as money or a present.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective having acquired or gained nothing.
- adjective carrying nothing in the hands.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Having
nothing togive . - adjective Having
given orreceived nothing. - adjective figuratively Having failed in a task.
- adjective That
revolves purely aroundunarmed ,hand-to-hand combat , and uses noweapons .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective having acquired or gained nothing
- adjective carrying nothing in the hands
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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While the article touches briefly on trends among women waterfowlers, it mostly follows this group through an unsuccessful Monday hunt, during which they manage to take none of the ducks that pass (some within 40 yards), they smoke, pass around a flask, apparently wear purple bands on their hats and finally leave empty-handed.
Poor Representation 2009
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The choice was get the best deal possible which included a first ever consumer watchdog agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or come away empty-handed.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson: President Obama Doesn't Deserve the Knock From Wall Street Occupiers Earl Ofari Hutchinson 2011
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A couple divers went in after them, but came up empty-handed.
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I went to East yesterday and came away empty-handed, gloomy but not despairing.
Jean's Knitting Jean 2009
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Zak and Kassi have only themselves to blame for coming away empty-handed.
Into Dungy's shoes: Colts coach Jim Caldwell winning over fans 2009
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A couple divers went in after them, but came up empty-handed.
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If Choruss abandons the time-tested approach of licensing and relies instead on covenants not to sue, it will facilitate a brazen money grab by the major labels it represents, leaving songwriters, recording artists and music publishers empty-handed, and college students holding the bag.
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He returned to Palestine empty-handed and politically weakened after the tripartite summit this week with President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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For an in-depth, in detail analysis, “If Choruss abandons the time-tested approach of licensing and relies instead on covenants not to sue, it will facilitate a brazen money grab by the major labels it represents, leaving songwriters, recording artists and music publishers empty-handed, and college students holding the bag,” wrote Bennett Lincoff, an intellectual property law attorney, consultant and author.
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Who on earth is going to leave Bolivia empty-handed?
Global Voices in English » Brazil: Bolivia expels Brazilian citizens 2009
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