go away empty-handed

go away empty-handed

To return from an experience or event without having gained anything. I worked so hard to prepare for the competition, and I still went away empty-handed, thanks to another fourth-place finish. Don't go away from the dessert table empty-handed—bring me a piece of cake!
See also: away, go
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go away empty-handed

Fig. to depart with nothing. I hate for you to go away empty-handed, but I cannot afford to contribute any money. They came hoping for some food, but they had to go away empty-handed.
See also: away, go
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • come away empty-handed
  • on an empty stomach
  • an empty nester
  • empty nester
  • empty-nesters
  • empty calories
  • have a forked tongue
  • look in
  • jam tomorrow
  • kafooster
References in periodicals archive
Hall, the winner of the Main event for the past two weeks, didn't go away empty-handed after taking first prize in the Plate competition with a 2-1 final win against Carl Sexton.
Even though he rescheduled for another date, he didn't want his fans to go away empty-handed.
Salah did not go away empty-handed, however, as he picked up the Puskas award for best goal for his strike against Everton in the Merseyside derby last December.
Donors don't go away empty-handed - for each 25kg of apples, they will receive two bottles of cider next spring.
Calum certainly didn't go away empty-handed from Loose Women as his pal Katie Price promised to play matchmaker for the reality singleton.
Wintrob will not go away empty-handed. According to a regulatory filing, his severance package will include stock awards, an incentive payment and severance of about $14.5 million.
This is wonderful!" Our five runners-up didn't go away empty-handed.
Celtic didn't go away empty-handed, though, picking up gold awards with St Mirren, Falkirk and Fraserburgh.
Visitors to Five Rivers are hard-pressed to go away empty-handed if they're looking for wildlife viewing opportunities.
Kingscroft a Koukash ace A Chester meeting without a Marwan Koukash winner is a rarity these days, and Kingscroft ensured the Kuwaiti-born, Liverpool-based businessman did not go away empty-handed as he landed the 7f handicap under Silvestre de Sousa.
Redcar Paralympian Bywater scored 17 points and Dan Highcock added 15 to ensure Britain, who began the week as defending champions, did not go away empty-handed last night.
James Dean, visitor services manager at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre, said: "Last year more than 2,000 people came through the visitor centre doors to see all the fantastic local artwork - and many didn't go away empty-handed.
Other lady race-goers need not go away empty-handed, as Marks & Spencer will also be hand out 3,000 goodie bags.
With fantastic prizes up for grabs - including holidays - it'll be impossible to go away empty-handed.
They may go away empty-handed, however, as there is not much turnover in his favoured corner with its handsome big family homes of the earlier 20th century, mostly standing in glorious large gardens, some with views over fields and down to the river in the distance.