for all one's trouble
for (all) one's trouble
In exchange for the effort that one has made. Usually, the "reward" that such effort yields is negative. A: "But you've been so much better about getting to work on time!" B: "Yep, and all I got for my trouble was the boss criticizing my typing skills instead." And what did I get for all my trouble? A lousy commemorative pin.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
for (all) one’s trouble
phr. in spite of one’s efforts; in very poor payment for one’s efforts. He got a punch in the jaw for all his trouble.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.