From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfor your painsfor your painsDO something/TAKE ACTIONas a reward for something you worked to achieve – used especially when this is disappointing I fetched the file, and all I got for my pains was a dirty look from Simon. → pain
Examples from the Corpus
for your pains• But I was laughed at for my pains.• The farmer took a cigarette for his pains and refused food.• He got a knighthood as well as a fortune for his pains - the first professional sportsman to do so.• Ryker pushed against the back of a man trying to get through and got an angry glare for his pains.• All I got for my pains was a grunt that fitted well with his simian features.• Instead, he got mystery for his pains, more and more mystery.• Feminists who recognize this contradiction are pilloried for their pains. 