기껏 + verb (기껏 만들었는데...); 기껏해야 = at most
with great effort (only to be wasted); at most, merely
Example
기껏 요리했는데 아무도 먹지 않았어요.
I went to all the trouble of cooking, and nobody ate.
Good to know
기껏 ~았/었는데 means effort went to waste: 'I bothered to ~, but...'.
Related words