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 judge whether this defines the answer.
'a doctor getting nothing for an operation' is the wordplay.
'a doctor' becomes 'dr' (abbreviation).
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'nothing' becomes 'o' (looks like zero - 0).
'for' says to put letters next to each other.
'an operation' becomes 'op'.
'dr'+'o'+'op'='DROOP'
'like' is the 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" .)