Leave to be desired Meaning in English
expression
LEEV tuh bee dih-ZY-erd
LEEV tuh bee dih-ZY-uhd
Definition
If something leaves to be desired, it is not as good as it should be or there's room for improvement.
Usage & Nuances
This is a fairly formal/neutral expression, often used in reviews or complaints. Commonly used about quality, performance, or results: 'service leaves to be desired.' Not literal; typically used after 'leaves' or with 'something to be desired.'
Spanish: dejar que desearPortuguese (BR): deixar a desejarPortuguese (PT): deixar a desejarChinese (Simplified): 差强人意 - 不尽如人意Chinese (Traditional): 差強人意 - 不盡如人意Hindi: इच्छित स्तर तक नहीं पहुँचता - बेहतर हो सकता हैArabic: يترك الكثير ليُرغب فيهBengali: অপূর্ণতা রয়েছে - উন্নতির সুযোগ আছেRussian: оставляет желать лучшегоJapanese: 物足りない - 改善の余地があるVietnamese: còn nhiều điều đáng mong đợi - chưa đạt như mong muốnKorean: 아쉬운 점이 있다 - 만족스럽지 않다Turkish: bekleneni vermiyor - geliştirilmesi gerekiyorUrdu: کچھ کمی ہے - مزید بہتر ہوسکتا ہےIndonesian: kurang memuaskan - masih perlu ditingkatkan
Example Sentences
The food at that restaurant leaves to be desired.
basic
His explanation leaves to be desired.
basic
The internet connection here leaves to be desired.
basic
Honestly, the service really leaves to be desired.
natural
Their attention to detail leaves to be desired when it comes to safety.
natural
The cleaning in this hotel leaves to be desired, to say the least.
natural