coming up empty

USAGE SUMMARY

"coming up empty" is a perfectly fine phrase to use in written English.
It is most commonly used to describe a feeling of frustration or disappointment after having made an effort that yielded no results. For example, "I searched for hours through the archives, but I ended up coming up empty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We're just coming up empty".

The New York Times - Sports

The codfish catch is declining, and nets are coming up empty.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — For years, the agonizing search for Osama bin Laden kept coming up empty.

The New York Times

But when researchers tried to prove the theory, they kept coming up empty.

The New York Times

"Obviously, you can't have that many opportunities and keep coming up empty".

The New York Times

Instead of coming up empty on many topics, Dr. Williams said, "We came up empty on very few".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

They came up empty-handed, the researchers report in the October issue of Conservation Biology.

Science Magazine

Not only does Merck have to recover Propecia's research expenses, the company is also at greater risk of coming up empty-handed.

The New York Times

After coming up empty-handed, Tavares decided to do what a rising number of frustrated educators are doing: He created his own practical solution to a problem rather than make do with what already exists.

Harvard University

A lot of these [potential] customers have been looking for a solution for some time and coming up empty-handed.

TechCrunch

Companies like Google are practically begging for guidance and official regulations so they can move forward, but are coming up empty-handed.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "coming up empty" to describe situations where effort was expended but no desired result was achieved. This phrase is appropriate in both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "coming up empty" when referring to a lack of effort. The phrase implies that an attempt was made, but it failed to produce results. If no attempt was made, use a phrase like "not even trying" or "lack of effort".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "coming up empty" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of a subject after an attempt or search. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase conveys a sense of disappointment after putting in effort without achieving the desired outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

15%

Business

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "coming up empty" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a lack of success or results after an attempt. Ludwig AI highlights that it is often associated with disappointment and is appropriate for various writing styles. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. When writing, ensure the phrase accurately reflects that effort was expended, and be mindful of the audience and tone. Alternatives such as "returning empty-handed" or "coming up short" offer similar meanings, allowing for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come up empty

A simpler, slightly more direct way of expressing the same idea.

comes up empty

This is the third-person singular present tense form of the phrase.

returning empty-handed

Emphasizes the act of going somewhere or attempting something and returning without any results or gains.

coming up hollow

Focuses more on the lack of substance or depth rather than just the absence of results.

coming up short

Highlights a deficiency or failure to meet a required amount or standard.

coming up blank

More specific to mental recall or finding information.

failing to find anything

Emphasizes the act of trying and failing to locate something.

coming up missing

Emphasizes the disappearance or loss of something.

achieving nothing

Focuses on the lack of accomplishment or attainment of goals.

finding nothing

A more literal and straightforward way to say that a search yielded no results.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone is "coming up empty"?

Saying someone is "coming up empty" means they are failing to find something, achieve a goal, or obtain a result despite making an effort. It implies a sense of disappointment or frustration due to the lack of success.

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

You can use "coming up empty" to describe various situations, such as: "After searching for hours, I "came up empty".", or "The investigation "came up empty" despite the detectives' best efforts."

What are some alternative phrases to "coming up empty"?

Some alternative phrases to "coming up empty" include "returning empty-handed", "coming up short", or "achieving nothing". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "coming up empty" a formal or informal expression?

"Coming up empty" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. While it's generally appropriate for most writing situations, consider the tone and audience to ensure it fits the overall style of your writing. For a more formal tone, consider a phrase like "yielding no results."