to become empty; to be emptied
striking (at something) and missing; swing and a miss; vain attempt
racing (of an engine); spinning one's wheels; running idle; fruitless effort; going nowhere; going round in circles
to empty; to vacate; to evacuate
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
dry cough; hacking cough; intentional cough (i.e. to get someone's attention)
deep-fried food (esp. chicken)
empty conveyance; empty taxi; free taxi; having spaces available (of a parking lot)
completely empty (of a residence, etc.); vacant; body from which the soul has left; corpse; shed skin (of a snake, insect, etc.)
bad (fictitious) bill; empty promise
bluffing; bluster; bravado
the way of karate; karate
making a fuss; Much Ado about Nothing (Shakespeare)
blank email (e.g. for signing up to an email list)
lacking cargo; in ballast
(unusually) dry rainy season
strikeout; (several) vain attempts; failing despite giving one's best
karate chop (pro wrestling move)
traveling alone and with little luggage (travelling)
heating a vessel without water in it; heating an empty pan, kettle, boiler, bathtub, etc.
karate gi; karate uniform
flat broke; stone broke; penniless
blank email (e.g. for signing up to an email list)
blank (ticket); unsuccessful lottery ticket
utterly lacking (in ability); hopeless; useless; poor
tea served without sweets
false or superficial prosperity
fictitious transaction; paper transaction
embossing; inkless stamping
clicking the shutter of a camera without taking a picture (because no film is loaded, or in order to advance the film)
utterly lacking (in ability); hopeless; useless; poor
empty (e.g. intermodal containers in the transport industry)
tenpai with all potential winning tiles visible on table (impossible to win)
dealt hand containing only 1-point cards (scoring combination)
demanding payment for a non-existent loan
empty string; null string