The 'Melted Duck on a Dashboard' meme stems from a viral photograph of a plastic rubber duck that succumbed to the intense heat inside a car during a summer heatwave, transforming from a cheerful bath toy into a shapeless orange blob. First gaining traction on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, the image quickly became a relatable symbol for extreme exhaustion, burnout, and the physical feeling of a sweltering summer day. It is most commonly used as a visual metaphor for someone who is barely holding it together or has completely 'dissolved' under the pressure of work, school, or external temperatures.