From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhave something to show for somethinghave something to show for somethingSUCCEED IN DOING somethingto have something as a result of what you have been doing If he fails, he’ll have nothing to show for his time at school. She had plenty of money to show for all her work. → show
Examples from the Corpus
have something to show for something• The country is beginning to have something to show for all the pain.• But if you think about it, they really do have nothing to show for it even with Banks popping Woodson.• It always feels like an admission of failure to come back from the Continent and have nothing to show for it.• So, what have I got to show for my time as a hostage?• They have little to show for their trouble, but they continue. 