leave something to be desired
Not quite satisfactory
To leave something to be desired is to fall short of expectations or standards—to be inadequate or disappointing in some way.
The hotel's cleanliness left something to be desired.
The phrase often softens criticism: saying a performance left much to be desired is gentler than calling it bad.
Leaves a lot to be desired intensifies the criticism.
- unsatisfactoryNot good enough
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- shortcomingsInadequacies or weak points
not up to scratch · lacking · subpar · below par · mediocre · falls flat · imperfection · disappointing · wanting · critique · inferior · ideal · standard · fault · flaw · could be better · needs work · expectation
leave something to be desiredexceed expectations
hit the mark · pass muster · do the job · suffice · measure up
leave something to be desiredhit the spot
Meet a need perfectly
delight · impress · check all the boxes · tick all the boxes
leaves, leaving, leaver, leavers, something, things, desire, desired, desires