sad sack

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a pathetically inept person, especially a soldier, who continually blunders in spite of good intentions.

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sad sack British  

noun

1. slang an inept person who makes mistakes despite good intentions

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sad sack Idioms  

1. A singularly inept person, as in Poor George is a hopeless sad sack. This term alludes to a cartoon character, Sad Sack, invented by George Baker in 1942 and representing a soldier in ill-fitting uniform who failed at whatever he tried to do. It was soon transferred to clumsily inept civilians.

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Other Word Forms

• sad-sack adjective

Etymology

Origin of sad sack

After the cartoon character created in 1942 by U.S. cartoonist George Baker (1915–75)

Example Sentences

Paul Matthews is a fiercely memorable loser, a sad sack who bristles with recognizably Cageian energy.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2023

Would that Christmas sad sack be hosting a cooking show on TikTok?

From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2023

Nevertheless, "I Want You Back" is a compatible showcase for its sad sack leads.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2022

In “Night Safari,” first performed in January 2018, Wilson plays Gary, the sad sack leader of what may be the most pathetic animal tour ever.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2021

Norse god of mischief Loki has been reduced to a traumatized sad sack in the Marvel television show that bears his name.

From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2021