1. empty-handed - Adjective
2. empty-handed - Adjective Satellite
carrying nothing in the hands
having acquired or gained nothing
Source: WordNetOtis barreled towards them empty-handed, before apparently realizing that a) he was empty-handed and b) charging towards a large body of water to fight a son of Poseidon was maybe not a good idea. Rick Riordan
Yes, I'm a real fighter. But I often ended up empty-handed. Hugo Pratt
Socrates did not stop with a philosophical consideration of mankind; he addressed himself to each one individually, wrested everything from him, and sent him away empty-handed. Soren Kierkegaard
It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety. Henry David Thoreau
He came back empty-handed. Arabic Proverb
He, who takes from one to give to another, goes to heavens empty-handed. Moroccan Proverb