Not up to par

[0276] Leave a lot to be desired

🎲 What were they thinking?
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Means something is highly unsatisfactory and has many faults or shortcomings.
  • Implies that significant improvement is needed or wished for.
  • It's a strong criticism, often delivered with a tone of disappointment.

Origin

  • A somewhat formal and idiomatic phrase dating back to at least the mid-19th century.
  • The structure suggests that the current state makes one wish (desire) for much more or much better.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Very unsatisfactory.
  • Highly inadequate.
  • Seriously lacking.
  • Far from ideal/perfect.
  • Needs major improvement.
  • Not nearly good enough.
  • Fell far short.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • It really sucked. / It blew.
  • It was pretty damn bad.
  • Seriously lacking.
  • Needed way more work. / Wasn't nearly good enough.

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • It was dogshit. / Absolute crap.
  • A complete shambles. (Especially UK disorganized mess)
  • A shitshow. / A clusterfuck. (Chaotic and badly managed/executed)

Milder/More Direct:

  • It was quite poor. / Very poor.
  • There were significant problems.
  • It requires substantial improvement.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Can be used in both informal and formal contexts.
  • It sounds slightly more formal and less direct than saying It was terrible, but the criticism is still strong.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The somewhat indirect phrasing might slightly lessen the perceived severity for some learners compared to It's very bad, but it is indeed strong criticism.

Examples

  • The organization of the event left a lot to be desired; nobody knew where to go.
  • His communication skills leave a lot to be desired.
  • While the location was great, the hotel's cleanliness left a lot to be desired.

Dialogue

Interviewer: How would you rate the public transport system in this city?

Resident: Honestly? It leaves a lot to be desired. The buses are infrequent, often late, and overcrowded.

Interviewer: So, significant improvements are needed?

Resident: Definitely. We deserve better.

Social Media Examples

  • Travel blog comment: The guided tour left a lot to be desired. The guide seemed bored and rushed us through. #travel #review
  • Post about a service: My internet speed lately leaves a lot to be desired. Constantly dropping out. @ProviderName, please fix! #badservice
  • Political commentary: The government's response to the crisis leaves a lot to be desired. #politics

Response Patterns

  • Oh dear. What was wrong specifically?
  • That bad, huh?
  • I've heard similar complaints.
  • That's really disappointing.
  • Could you elaborate on the issues?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Asking for specific details about the problems.
  • Expressing sympathy or shared frustration.
  • Discussing potential complaints, reviews, or solutions.
  • Comparing with expectations.

Conversation Starter

  • No. It's an evaluative summary of an experience or situation.

Intonation

  • Usually spoken with disappointment or strong criticism.
  • Emphasis often falls on LOT and DESIRED. It left a LOT to be DESIRED.

Generation Differences

  • Understood across generations, maybe slightly more common in written communication or more formal spoken English.

Regional Variations

  • Widely used and understood in English-speaking countries.
Not up to par
🎲 What were they thinking?