Meaning of emptyhanded | Babel Free

Definitions

1. With nothing in one's hands.
2. Impoverished; having no money or resources.
3. Having nothing to offer.
4. Having received or acquired nothing.
5. Having nothing to offer; unable to give what was promised.
6. Unarmed.

Equivalents

Examples

“Near-synonyms: unburdened, unencumbered, unladen”

“If, for example, Oswald was not "emptyhanded" but, as the original reports had it, had been drinking a Coca-Cola — there was a vending machine in the lunchroom where the encounter occurred — then he almost certainly could not have⟳ left the sixth-floor window after firing the shots, hid the rifle on the sixth floor, run⟳ down to the second floor, entered the lunchroom, operated the machine, ...”

“As he walked about in the village, Isaac saw⟳ those inhabitants who had come⟳ to the Land⟳ emptyhanded and now own⟳ fields and vineyards and houses full of good things, not by virtue of observing the Torah and pious deeds, for the Biluim were free thinkers and their feet too are on the ground, but because they're Russians and I'm from Galicia, and even the one small village the Galicians put⟳ up fell to rack and ruin.”

“I come⟳ to this conference bearing neither a new slogan nor a basket full of gifts. But I do not come⟳ emptyhanded. I come⟳ with the promise⟳ of the Government and people of the United States to work⟳ with you...”

“Returning "emptyhanded" doesn't always mean⟳ that you didn't get⟳ what you set⟳ out for.”

“"Have⟳ you got anything, my dear? If you are emptyhanded, go emptyhanded." But the shopper said, "Sisters, stop⟳ teasing him, for by God, he served me well today; no one else would have⟳ been as patient with me. Whatever his share⟳ will come⟳ to, I shall pay⟳ for him myself.”

“Antar neglected his boat and his nets for three days on end⟳, and when, on the entreaties of his wife and children, he brought himself to go back to sea, he came back in the evening emptyhanded.”

“...he promised to get⟳ concessions on container handling, and he cannot go to the dockers emptyhanded.”

“We want⟳ to make⟳ them aware of all of the programs so these people don't go home emptyhanded. Many times they go home emptyhanded because the person has been trained with the tunnel vision where he is thinking only of the one program⟳ and is not aware of the other programs that exist⟳, and this is what we have⟳ been doing this last⟳ year is trying to cross train⟳ our people and at least if nothing else have⟳ some communication.”

“...for he has come⟳ on an ambassage and he has come⟳ emptyhanded (not armed).”

CEFR level