くたびれ儲もうけ

noun

waste of effort; thankless task

Describes a situation where one's hard work yields little or no reward, or a task that brings no gratitude. Often used in the phrase くたびれ儲けに終わる.

• せっかく準じゅん備びしたのに、誰だれも来こなくてくたびれ儲もうけだった。

  I went to all that trouble preparing, but nobody came, so it was a waste of effort.

• この仕し事ごとはくたびれ儲もうけで、感かん謝しゃされることもない。

  This job is a thankless task; nobody ever appreciates it.