a rămâne cu buza friptă / cu buzele fripte / umflate

\a rămâne cu buza friptă / cu buzele fripte / umflate to have one's trouble for nothing

to be too late in the field

to be a fool for one's pains

to come off a loser

to be left in the basket

to be left to hold the sack

sl. to get the cheese.