# sad panda

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sad-panda
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An unhappy or disappointed person.

## Examples

- He is a sad panda because his team lost the game.
- When the coffee shop ran out of his favorite roast, he was a total sad panda.
- The disappointed applicant became a sad panda upon realizing that his dream job had been offered to someone else.

## Origin

The term emerged in 1999, originating from "Sexual Harassment Panda," an episode of the animated comedy series South Park. The name belongs to a mascot character whose repeated failures to educate children on legal liability result in his signature expression of melancholy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.