> as lemmas

1795 tr. J.-M. Roland de La Platière Appeal to Impartial Posterity iv. 41 Larive, the only actor perhaps worth quoting, still left something to be desired [Fr. laissoit..quelque chose à désirer].

1812 Christian Observer 11 App. 838/1 That work of benevolence toward his fellow-sinners, in which the most diligent pursuit and the utmost exertion of ability, will still leave much to be desired, and much to be done by all.

1818 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Sept. 259/2 Mr. Morrison's dictionary leaves much to wish for in copiousness of explanation.

1827 Harmonicon 5 170/2 The prima donna, Melas, leaves much to wish.

1876 F. Pollock Let. 2 May (1942) I. 6 Kent is a considerable advance, but leaves much to be desired.

1899 Louisiana Planter & Sugar Manufacturer 11 Feb. 121/3 The weather leaves a little to be desired as the layer of snow spread on the fields is much too thin to furnish a protecting cover for the cereals sown in the fall.

1917 Crisis Aug. 163/1 It..leaves something to wish, but it is the finest and fairest yet.

1923 Come to Java 193 The food given in the resthouse and the hotel varies, sometimes it is prepared very well, other times it leaves something to wish for.

1938 J. D. Wade in Southern Rev. Winter 485 Now, truly, it might be conceded, many of God's creatures, as you looked at them, might leave much to wish for.

1939 M. Allingham Mr. Campion & Others i. iii. 65 The staff still left much to be desired and the food..was certainly not cooked by a master.

1967 A. Bailey in L. Deighton London Dossier 52 The vegetables leave much to be desired, but the Stilton is worth having.

1974 Times 22 Jan. 2 Now that we know how they [sc. licences] operate, we feel they leave a lot to be desired.

2014 New Scientist 11 Oct. 38/4 Its mouldability still leaves something to be desired.