Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
empty-barrel
noun
/ˈɛmpti ˈbɛrəl/
Definition
A barrel that contains no contents or is void of any substance.
Examples
- The old empty-barrel in the barn has been there for years.
- When he speaks, it’s like listening to an empty-barrel—lots of noise but no real information.
Meaning
The term ’empty-barrel’ can be used literally to refer to a physical barrel that has been emptied of its contents, or metaphorically to describe someone who talks a lot but lacks knowledge or substance.
Synonyms
- hollow barrel
- void container
- empty vessel
