Look sad, like a doctor getting nothing for an operation (5)
I believe the answer is:
droop
'look sad' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'doctor getting nothing for an operation' is the wordplay.
'doctor' becomes 'dr' (abbreviation).
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'nothing' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'an operation' becomes 'op'.
'dr'+'o'+'op'='DROOP'
'like a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for droop that I've seen before include "Dangle" , "Hang limply" , "sink" , "Sag, wilt" , "Hang downwards, lose strength or spirit" .)