the empty nest

empty nest

A family home inhabited by parents after their children have grown up and departed. Many parents feel depressed when they are left in an empty nest.
See also: empty, nest
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the ˌempty ˈnest

the situation that parents are in when their children have left home: the empty nest syndrome
See also: empty, nest
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • empty nest
  • empty nest, empty nester
  • nester
  • on the wrong side of the blanket
  • woods colt
  • parentally challenged
  • wrong side of the blanket
  • born out of wedlock
  • wedlock
  • born on the wrong side of the blanket
References in periodicals archive
We also meet teachers Julie and Richard, who hope their Cocker Spaniel puppy will fill the empty nest now their sons are leaving home, and the Chinery family from Berkshire, who are seeking tips with managing energetic Cockerpoo Benji.
My husband and I kept the empty nest. It is a thing of such beauty so finely made.
The empty nest syndrome is associated more with women.
For them, the empty nest can take away part of their identity and brings a real sense of loss.
Remember you are still a parent and the season of the empty nest can be just as rich and fulfilling as that of a full nest, but it takes time to adjust.
"However, while the empty nest can be a challenging time, it can also give you the freedom and opportunity to rediscover hobbies and interests, reconnect with your partner and/or friends and to create new and happy memories.
"We may be about to encounter the empty nest, but at least it will be cheaper to go on holiday.
The empty nest syndrome will now affect both Jenner parents and all the drama will surely be documented in the family's host of reality TV shows.
"Her" wonders if they might be our lovers instead, but also wonders how we'll cope when, like children, they outgrow us and leave us behind in the empty nest of the physical world.
I could tell you many wonderful things about chickens, but today I'm thinking about how they hopped into my empty nest and filled it pretty full."--From "A Flock of Chickens: RX for the Empty Nest Syndrome" Marie and her husband, Jim, are developing a farm in the Pacific Northwest with their adult children and grandchildren.
"Feeling very upset and unsettled, as I did, is extremely common," says author Celia Dodd, who's researched the topic for her new book, The Empty Nest: How To Survive And Stay Close To Your Adult Child.
THE EMPTY NEST SYNDROME They call it the empty nest syndrome When the children have all left home You think of the past.
"When boomers reach the empty nest stage, they discover that they no longer need all of the financial relationships that they have accumulated over 40 years of homebuilding and career development.
and the empty nest has made place for more than it held before!
THE Merseyside mother of Britain's first sextuplets has told of her happiness after five of them returned to the empty nest.