IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishgo away empty-handed
Meaning: To get nothing at all.
Example: “The last three bakeries were shut, so we went away empty-handed.”
Origin: Hands with nothing in them, as after a failed hunt or a refused request. "Empty-handed" is found in English from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Portuguese: Ficar a ver navios Literally: To be left watching ships
Russian: Остаться с носом (Ostat'sya s nosom) Literally: To be left with the nose
Italian: a bocca asciutta Literally: With dry mouth
More English idioms
- on the ropes Close to defeat or collapse.
- hit rock bottom To reach the lowest possible point.
- move with the times To keep up with change instead of clinging to old ways.
- beat the drum for something To promote something loudly and publicly.
- any old how Carelessly, with no attention to doing it properly.
- where the sun doesn't shine Somewhere hidden; also a rude way of naming the body.
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