leave something to be desired
/liːv ˈsʌmθɪŋ tu biː dɪˈzaɪə(ɹ)d/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.12 in modern English
38
Scrabble Score
25
Letters
5
Syllables
15
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
to be insufficient in some aspect.
Example Sentences
- "These instructions are too short not to leave something to be desired under certain circumstances; but the knowledge of veterinary surgeons will supply whatever may be incomplete[…]"
- "[…]the drawings of the bats, though very artistic, leave something to be desired as regards detail."
- "Nevertheless, the trains are well patronised, for road services in the district leave something to be desired."
- "To say Cuban train toilets leave something to be desired would not just be an understatement, it would suggest the person speaking inhabited an altogether alien reality."