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Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom leave a lot to be desired, which means to be much worse than you would like. See examples, synonyms, translations and related words.
May 6, 2024 · Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom leave much to be desired, which means something is not very good or not close to being good enough. See example sentences and related words.
leave a lot to be desired. Cliché to be lacking something important; to be inadequate. (A polite way of saying that something is bad.) This report leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sorry to have to fire you, Mary, but your work leaves a lot to be desired. See also: desire, leave, lot, to.
6 days ago · phrase. If you say that something leaves a lot to be desired, you mean that it is not as good as it should be. [disapproval] The selection of programmes leaves a lot to be desired. Food seems to have been available, even if the quality left much to be desired.
Be imperfect or unsatisfactory. For example, His account of the election leaves a lot to be desired . This usage can also be put in a more positive way, that is, leave nothing to be desired , meaning “to be perfectly satisfactory,” as in His account leaves nothing to be desired . [Late 1700s]
leave a lot to be desired. Cliché to be lacking something important; to be inadequate. (A polite way of saying that something is bad.) This report leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sorry to have to fire you, Mary, but your work leaves a lot to be desired. See also: desire, leave, lot, to.
To be very inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack a large amount of what is desired or required. The film has a very interesting premise, but the final product leaves much to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves much to be desired nonetheless. See also: desire, leave, much, to.
