empty soup

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "empty soup" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is no soup left in a container or bowl, or metaphorically to indicate a lack of substance or content in something. Example: "After the party, the pot was left with nothing but empty soup, a reminder of how much everyone enjoyed the meal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But empty soup cans?

The New York Times

Diners pinch off flecks of one or two of these buns, placing the bits in an empty soup bowl.

The New York Times - Magazine

He keeps an empty soup can in his pocket to spit tobacco when he is in a restaurant or a reporter's car.

The New York Times

During auditing, Haggis grasped a cylindrical electrode in each hand; when he first joined Scientology, the electrodes were empty soup cans.

The New Yorker

"So, who can tell me the proper way to eat soup?" Mrs. Jones asked as she held up an empty soup bowl.

The New York Times

Usually when she returned she found the kitchen a disaster area of dirty dishes and empty soup cans and beer bottles.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But when asked about her teenage son, who often comes to help her after his studies, she looks up from her near-empty soup cauldron and, for the first time in the evening, seems resolute.

The Guardian

Schoolchildren were ordered into shelters; supermarket shelves were emptied of soup cans and bottled water.

The New York Times

I don't want nothin.' " She dropped ashes into an empty tomato-soup can on the table by the bed.

The New Yorker

He bypassed the table and emptied the soup onto the waist-high plas¬tic fern by the side door.

Huffington Post

It's a sort of apology to the cosmos: yeah, I'm nuts, but what harm am I doing if I stuff my underwear into an empty Campbell's soup carton?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "empty soup" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly indicates the lack of substance or value, preventing misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "empty soup" to describe situations where something is merely insufficient, not entirely devoid of content or value. Using phrases like "lacking substance" or "deficient" might be more accurate in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty soup" functions primarily as an adjective-noun compound, where 'empty' modifies 'soup'. It serves to describe the state or condition of the soup or the container that once held it. Ludwig shows examples of both literal and figurative usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "empty soup" is a grammatically sound adjective-noun compound that effectively conveys the absence of soup. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While "empty soup" literally describes the lack of soup, it can also be used metaphorically to represent a lack of substance. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media contexts and possesses a neutral register. When employing it, consider the potential for figurative interpretation and ensure the context clarifies your intended meaning. Related phrases, such as "soup remains depleted", provide alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soup supply gone

Simple and direct, indicating the soup is no longer available.

no soup left

A more direct way of stating the absence of soup.

soup used up

Indicates that the soup supply has been exhausted.

soup remains depleted

Focuses on the state of depletion, specifying what remains after soup consumption.

soup completely finished

Emphasizes the completion of eating the soup.

broth entirely consumed

Replaces "soup" with "broth" and "empty" with "entirely consumed", emphasizing complete consumption.

soup bowl vacant

Replaces "empty" with "vacant", highlighting the emptiness of the bowl.

soup pot bare

Shifts focus to the container (pot) and uses "bare" to indicate emptiness.

soup reserves exhausted

A more formal way to express that there is no soup left.

devoid of soup

Uses a more formal adjective to indicate the absence of soup.

FAQs

How can I use "empty soup" in a sentence?

You can use "empty soup" literally, such as: "After dinner, all that remained was an empty soup bowl". Metaphorically, it can describe something lacking substance: "His promises turned out to be just empty soup".

What are some synonyms for "empty soup"?

Alternatives include phrases like "soup remains depleted", "broth entirely consumed", or "no soup left", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the soup is empty" instead of "empty soup"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The soup is empty" describes the state of the soup itself (or rather, the lack thereof), while "empty soup" functions more as a descriptive phrase about a container or situation.

When is it appropriate to use "empty soup" figuratively?

Use "empty soup" figuratively when you want to emphasize a complete lack of substance, value, or meaning. For instance, "His speech was just empty soup, offering no real solutions".