on an empty stomach

Meaning

This phrase means without having eaten any food recently, so that your stomach is literally empty. It is most commonly used when talking about taking medicine, drinking alcohol, or exercising, where having food in your system changes the effect.

Examples

• You shouldn't take these pills on an empty stomach.

  You shouldn't take these pills on an empty stomach.

• Drinking coffee on an empty stomach always makes me feel jittery.

  Drinking coffee on an empty stomach always makes me feel jittery.

• I can't study on an empty stomach; I need a snack first.

  I can't study on an empty stomach; I need a snack first.

• Running on an empty stomach helps some people burn more fat.

  Running on an empty stomach helps some people burn more fat.

• He made the mistake of drinking beer on an empty stomach.

  He made the mistake of drinking beer on an empty stomach.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I took my medicine with an empty stomach.

  ✓ I took my medicine on an empty stomach.

  The correct preposition to use with 'empty stomach' is 'on,' not 'with' or 'in.'

• ✗ Don't exercise with empty stomach.

  ✓ Don't exercise on an empty stomach.

  You must include the article 'an' in this fixed expression.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Never drink strong alcohol ___.

  💡 Without eating food first.

  Show answer

  on an empty stomach

• The doctor told me to take this medication ___ in the morning.

  💡 Before having breakfast.

  Show answer

  on an empty stomach