come up dry
phrase
: to fail to produce water, oil, etc.
They drilled for oil but the well came up dry.
—often used figurativelyThey went searching for clues but came up dry.
Cite this Entry
“Come up dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20up%20dry. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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