pack a sad

“Pack a sad” is New Zealand slang with two meanings: for a machine, to break down (“the car packed a sad”), and for a person, to sulk or get grumpy (“he’s packing a sad because he lost”).

What pack a sad means

For things, it means giving up and refusing to work. Washing machines, laptops, old cars and Wi-Fi routers all pack a sad, usually at the worst possible moment.

For people, it means going into a sulk: getting moody, negative or quietly upset, often over something small. It’s mildly teasing, the way you might say someone is “having a moment.”

Examples

• “The dishwasher’s packed a sad again.”
• “Don’t pack a sad just because you lost at cards.”
• “My phone packed a sad halfway through the call.”

Where it came from

Wiktionary lists both senses, to break down and to be negative or down, as colloquial New Zealand English. Its exact origin is unclear.

Related terms

• Munted: broken or wrecked.
• Pressed: upset or bothered.
• Salty: bitter or irritated.
• Sweet as: great, no problem.

More Kiwi words are in our New Zealand slang guide.