A bocca asciutta

A bocca asciutta
With a dry mouth

This Italian idiom means to be left empty-handed or to not achieve the desired outcome. The phrase likely originates from the concept of being left without something essential or expected, such as food or drink, resulting in a dry mouth and a feeling of disappointment or dissatisfaction. Historically, having a dry mouth would signify a lack of basic needs being met, thus conveying the sense of being unfulfilled or deprived.

Esempi

1. Nonostante tutti i suoi sforzi, è rimasto a bocca asciutta. – Despite all his efforts, he was left empty-handed.
2. Speravo di ottenere una promozione, ma sono rimasto a bocca asciutta. – I hoped to get a promotion, but I was left with nothing.
3. Dopo aver giocato alla lotteria, è rimasto a bocca asciutta. – After playing the lottery, he was left with nothing.