for nothing

Dear teachers.
I'd like to know the meaning of "So that was the time I got a licking for nothing!"

My mom had sent me to the store to get a sack of flour.
On the way home I somehow lost the coin purse that probably had $3 or $4
in it. At that time it was a lot of money.
When I got home I got a licking from my mom. She was really mad!
Then in the newspaper the next day,
somebody ran a little ad that said that they had found the money
and they returned it to my mom. So that was the time I got a licking for nothing!

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Dear teachers.
I'd like to know the meaning of "So that was the time I got a licking for nothing!"

My mom had sent me to the store to get a sack of flour.
On the way home I somehow lost the coin purse that probably had $3 or $4
in it. At that time it was a lot of money.
When I got home I got a licking from my mom. She was really mad!
Then in the newspaper the next day,
somebody ran a little ad that said that they had found the money
and they returned it to my mom. So that was the time I got a licking for nothing!

it means you got spanked.