for one's pains
In return for the trouble one has taken, as in And all he got for his pains was a failing grade. This expression is nearly always used ironically to indicate that the return was not appropriate to the effort made. [First half of 1500s]
Words nearby for one's pains
for keeps, for love or money, for one, for one thing, for one's money, for one's pains, for one's part, for one's sake, for openers, for pete's sake, for real
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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