have (something) to show for (something)

to be the result of your effort.

She tried her best to make the business work, but now all she had to show for her effort was a huge debt.

• make something worth while
• make something worth your while
• make stick
• make the bed
• make the best of
• make the best of a bad situation
• make the best of something
• make the grade
• make the headlines
• make the most of
• make the most of something
• make the right noises
• make the rounds
• make the running
• make the scene
• make time for
• make time for something
• make toes curl
• make tracks
• make up for lost time
• make up mind
• make up out of whole cloth
• make up the bed
• make up your mind
• make waves