leave something to be desired

Meaning: (idiomatic)to be insufficient in some aspect.1835,An essay on the use of chlorurets of oxide of sodium and of lime,page35:These instructions are too short not toleave something to be desiredunder certain circumstances; but the knowledge of veterinary surgeons will supply whatever may be incomplete[…]1921,Foxes from Northern Argentina,page386:[…]the drawings of the bats, though very artistic,leave something to be desiredas regards detail.1951November, R. K. Kirkland, “The Wimbledon and West Croydon Line of the Southern Region”, inRailway Magazine, page726:Nevertheless, the trains are well patronised, for road services in the districtleave something to be desired.2013,Slow train to Guantanamo : a rail odyssey through Cuba in the last days of the Castros,page125:To say Cuban train toiletsleave something to be desiredwould not just be an understatement, it would suggest the person speaking inhabited an altogether alien reality.

Examples:

EN: I'll admit the furnishings do leave something to be desired... but it has a lived-in quality, don't you think?
ES: Admito que los muebles no son muy bonitos... pero tienen cierta calidad a pesar de ser usados, ¿no cree?
EN: Their relationship does leave something to be desired.
ES: - Sus amistades dejan mucho que desear.
EN: Your manners leave something to be desired.
ES: Sus modales parecen algo insensibles.
EN: Uh, I must say, Sheriff, your motels leave something to be desired.
ES: Por cierto Sheriff.. ...sus moteles dejan mucho que desear.
EN: Your methods leave something to be desired, monsieur.
ES: Sus métodos dejan mucho que desear, monsieur.
EN: Charlemagne is a wonderful lover, but his stature does leave something to be desired.
ES: Carlomagno es un amante maravilloso, pero su estatura Deja mucho que desear.
EN: Your appetizers leave something to be desired.
ES: Bueno al menos tus aperitivos se hacen desear.
EN: Robert's shopping skills leave something to be desired.
ES: Las habilidades para comprar de Robert dejan mucho que desear.
EN: Mr. Palmer's navigating skills still leave something to be desired.
ES: Las habilidades de navegación del señor Palmer dejan qué desear.
EN: Her interviewing skills leave something to be desired.
ES: Su habilidad pera las entrevistas dejaba mucho que desear.
EN: As a motivational speaker, you really leave something to be desired.
ES: Como un hablador motivacional, realmente dejas algo para ser deseado.
EN: Though as figure skaters, they leave something to be desired.
ES: Aunque como patinadores artísticos, dejan mucho que desear.
EN: Let's give it up for the boys! [cheering] I thought the boys' KISS number was good, although the lyrics did leave something to be desired.
ES: ¡Un aplauso para los chicos! Creo que el número de KISS de los chicos fue bueno, aunque la letra dejaba algo que desear.
EN: Maybe my style points leave something to be desired, yeah, granted.
ES: Tal vez mi estilo deje bastante que desear, sin duda.
EN: Your judgment seems to leave something to be desired.
ES: Pareces a punto de tener una crisis.

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