في 15 ثانية
- Used when something fails to meet your expectations or standards.
- A polite way to say something is disappointing or subpar.
- Works for services, products, performances, or general behavior.
المعنى
This phrase is used when something doesn't quite meet your expectations or falls short of what it should be. It is the perfect way to say something is disappointing or 'leaves much to be desired' without being overly aggressive.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Reviewing a new restaurant
A comida estava boa, mas o atendimento deixou a desejar.
The food was good, but the service left much to be desired.
Discussing a work project
O relatório final deixou a desejar em termos de detalhes.
The final report fell short in terms of details.
Texting a friend about a movie
Não vá ao cinema, o final do filme deixa a desejar.
Don't go to the movies; the ending is disappointing.
خلفية ثقافية
In Brazil, using 'deixa a desejar' is a key social skill. It allows you to be a 'sincericida' (someone who is too honest) without actually being rude. It's very common in corporate environments during 'feedback' sessions. Portuguese speakers in Europe use this phrase frequently in consumer complaints. It is considered a standard, formal way to initiate a complaint in a 'Livro de Reclamações'. In Luanda, the phrase is often used to describe public infrastructure or the lack of consistent services like water and electricity, often with a tone of resigned irony. On Brazilian social media (Twitter/X), users often use the phrase to 'cancel' or critique celebrities' outfits or performances at events like the Met Gala or Rock in Rio.
The 'Muito' Trick
Always put 'muito' before 'a desejar' to sound like a native. 'Deixa muito a desejar' is 10x more common than 'Deixa a desejar muito'.
Don't use with people
Saying 'Você deixa a desejar' to a friend is very hurtful. It sounds like you are evaluating them like a product.
في 15 ثانية
- Used when something fails to meet your expectations or standards.
- A polite way to say something is disappointing or subpar.
- Works for services, products, performances, or general behavior.
What It Means
Imagine you go to a fancy restaurant. You expect a five-star meal. Instead, the pasta is cold and the waiter is grumpy. That feeling of 'meh' is exactly what deixa a desejar captures. It means something is incomplete or subpar. It suggests there is a gap between reality and what you wanted. It is not necessarily a total disaster. It just isn't as good as it could be.
How To Use It
You use it like a verb phrase. You can say a service, a movie, or even a person's behavior deixa a desejar. It usually follows a subject. For example: O filme deixou a desejar. This means the movie was disappointing. You can also add muito to make it stronger. Isso deixa muito a desejar means it is really lacking. It is a very flexible tool for your Portuguese kit.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to give a critique. It works perfectly for online reviews. It is great for talking about a project at work. You can use it when chatting with friends about a bad date. It is a polite way to be honest. It sounds more sophisticated than just saying something is 'bad'. It implies you have standards. Use it when you expected a 10 but got a 6.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for things that are truly offensive or tragic. If a situation is a total catastrophe, this phrase might sound too mild. It is for quality control, not for moral outrages. Also, avoid using it to describe your best friend's cooking to their face. It is a critique, and even though it is polished, it still stings. If something is perfect, obviously, stay away from this one!
Cultural Background
Brazilians are generally very polite and indirect with criticism. We don't like to say 'this is garbage' directly. Deixa a desejar is our elegant way of complaining. It focuses on the 'desire' or 'expectation' rather than just the failure. It has been a staple of the language for a long time. It reflects a culture that values social harmony even when things go wrong.
Common Variations
You might hear ficou a desejar when talking about a specific event in the past. If you want to be extra fancy, you can say deixou um pouco a desejar. This 'a little bit' softens the blow. In slang, people might just say não convenceu, but deixa a desejar remains the gold standard for a classy complaint. It is used from North to South without much change.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is highly versatile and sits in the 'neutral' register. It is safe for business meetings but common enough for a bar conversation. Always conjugate the verb 'deixar' to match the subject and time.
The 'Muito' Trick
Always put 'muito' before 'a desejar' to sound like a native. 'Deixa muito a desejar' is 10x more common than 'Deixa a desejar muito'.
Don't use with people
Saying 'Você deixa a desejar' to a friend is very hurtful. It sounds like you are evaluating them like a product.
Softening Criticism
Add 'um pouco' (a little) if you want to be extra polite. 'Deixou um pouco a desejar' is the ultimate polite complaint.
أمثلة
6A comida estava boa, mas o atendimento deixou a desejar.
The food was good, but the service left much to be desired.
Commonly used to balance a compliment with a critique.
O relatório final deixou a desejar em termos de detalhes.
The final report fell short in terms of details.
Professional way to point out missing information.
Não vá ao cinema, o final do filme deixa a desejar.
Don't go to the movies; the ending is disappointing.
Warning a friend about a bad experience.
A festa foi ótima, mas a playlist deixou a desejar, né?
The party was great, but the playlist was a bit of a letdown, right?
Lighthearted critique of a specific element.
O desempenho do candidato deixou a desejar na entrevista.
The candidate's performance was subpar during the interview.
Used in HR or formal assessment contexts.
Sua atitude ontem deixou muito a desejar.
Your attitude yesterday was very disappointing.
Expressing personal hurt or frustration.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'deixar'.
Ontem, o serviço do hotel ________ a desejar.
The word 'Ontem' (Yesterday) indicates the past tense (Preterite).
Which sentence is the most polite way to criticize a meal?
Como dizer que a comida não estava boa de forma educada?
'Deixa a desejar' is a polite, indirect way to express dissatisfaction.
Match the situation to the correct use of the phrase.
Situação: Você comprou um celular novo e a bateria acaba em 2 horas.
You can use present, past, or intensified forms depending on if you are talking about the model in general or your specific experience.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Você gostou do livro? B: A história é boa, mas o final ________.
Since you finished the book, the past tense 'deixou' is most natural.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينOntem, o serviço do hotel ________ a desejar.
The word 'Ontem' (Yesterday) indicates the past tense (Preterite).
Como dizer que a comida não estava boa de forma educada?
'Deixa a desejar' is a polite, indirect way to express dissatisfaction.
Situação: Você comprou um celular novo e a bateria acaba em 2 horas.
You can use present, past, or intensified forms depending on if you are talking about the model in general or your specific experience.
A: Você gostou do livro? B: A história é boa, mas o final ________.
Since you finished the book, the past tense 'deixou' is most natural.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
5 أسئلةOnly for their performance in a specific task (like an athlete or an employee), never for their personality.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
You could say 'superar as expectativas' (to exceed expectations) or 'dar conta do recado'.
Yes! 'Ficou a desejar' is very common and means the same thing, usually referring to a completed event.
Never use the accent (crase) on the 'a'. Prepositions before verbs don't take the crase.
عبارات ذات صلة
Ficar aquém
synonymTo fall short of a mark or expectation.
Não ser lá essas coisas
similarTo not be all that great.
Dar conta do recado
contrastTo successfully complete a task.
Pisar na bola
similarTo mess up or let someone down.
