came up empty

USAGE SUMMARY

"came up empty" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to have no success or to fail in something that was attempted or expected. Example: Despite hours of searching, the treasure hunters came up empty-handed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The bookers came up empty.

The New Yorker

Meese came up empty.

The Washington Post

But again, we came up empty.

The New York Times - Travel

The search for dirt came up empty.

The New Yorker

Again, I came up empty.

The Guardian - Opinion

The next threats, too, came up empty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The Nets came up empty-handed.

The New York Times

But she came up empty-handed.

Princeton University

But I came up empty-handed.

University of California, Berkeley

He came up empty-handed.

The New York Times

Instead, they came up empty-handed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came up empty" to concisely convey the idea that a search, effort, or investigation yielded no results or success. For example: "After searching for hours, the team came up empty."

Common error

Avoid using "came up empty" in passive constructions where it obscures the agent performing the action. Instead of saying "Results came up empty", specify who or what "came up empty", like "The researchers came up empty."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came up empty" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating a lack of success or discovery in a search or endeavor. It often modifies a subject, explaining the outcome of their efforts. Ludwig provides numerous examples from varied sources showcasing this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "came up empty" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to indicate a lack of success in a search or endeavor. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reliable sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Its usage is broadly neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Related phrases include "found nothing" and "achieved no results". When using the phrase, avoid passive constructions to maintain clarity. Overall, "came up empty" is an effective way to communicate the failure of an attempt in a concise manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

found nothing

Focuses on the lack of finding something, rather than the failure of an attempt.

failed to find anything

Highlights both the failure and the lack of discovery.

achieved no results

Emphasizes the absence of positive outcomes from an effort.

was unsuccessful

A formal way of stating that an attempt did not achieve its goal.

didn't succeed

A more general way of saying that an attempt was unsuccessful.

came to nothing

Suggests that an effort or plan was ultimately futile.

had no luck

Implies that the lack of success was due to chance or fortune.

proved fruitless

Emphasizes the lack of any valuable outcome from an effort.

drew a blank

Indicates a complete failure to recall or produce something.

didn't pan out

An informal way of saying that a plan or expectation failed to materialize.

FAQs

How can I use "came up empty" in a sentence?

You can use "came up empty" to describe a search or effort that yielded no results. For example, "The police searched the house, but "came up empty"."

What does "came up empty" mean?

"Came up empty" means to fail to find something or to achieve a desired result after searching or trying.

What are some synonyms for "came up empty"?

Alternatives to "came up empty" include "found nothing", "achieved no results", or "was unsuccessful" depending on the context.

Is "came up empty-handed" the same as "came up empty"?

"Came up empty-handed" is very similar to "came up empty" and emphasizes the lack of physical items or tangible results, but "came up empty" can be used more broadly to include intangible results or information.