desire



consumed by desire

Completely absorbed and controlled by one's passion or lust for something or someone. Jonathan found himself consumed by desire to be with Stephen, such that he could no longer pay attention in class. Many men, consumed by desire for a woman, have committed atrocious and sometimes bizarre acts of depravity. Consumed by his desire to rule the world, the dictator was blind to the mutiny of his advisors.
See also: consume, desire

earthly desires

Desires for tangible things (such as wealth, property, or other material goods) or for pleasures of the body (such as sexual activity, gluttony, or other hedonistic pursuits). Buddhism teaches us to try to let go of our earthly desires, freeing our minds and bodies for a state of enlightenment. Because our earthly desires are a reflection of our sins, we should shun them if we wish to receive God's light.
See also: desire, earthly

worldly desires

Desires for tangible things (such as wealth, property, or other material goods) or for pleasures of the body (such as sexual activity, gluttony, or other hedonistic pursuits). Buddhism teaches us to try to let go of our worldly desires, freeing our minds and bodies for a state of enlightenment. Because our worldly desires are a reflection of our sins, we should shun them if we wish to receive God's light.
See also: desire, worldly

(one's) heart's desire

Something one very much wants or needs. After my six-month tour in Iraq, my heart's desire is just to see my husband again.
See also: desire

to (one's) heart's desire

As much as or to the point that one wants; to the point of contentment, satiety, or surfeit. I've made plenty of food for everyone, so please eat to your heart's desire.
See also: desire

leave much to be desired

To be very inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack a large amount of what is desired or required. The film has a very interesting premise, but the final product leaves much to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves much to be desired nonetheless.
See also: desire, leave, much

leave a great deal to be desired

To be very inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack a large amount of what is desired or required. The film has a very interesting premise, but the final product leaves a great deal to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves a great deal to be desired nonetheless.
See also: deal, desire, great, leave

leave lots to be desired

To be very inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack a large amount of what is desired or required. The film has a very interesting premise, but the final product leaves lots to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves lots to be desired nonetheless.
See also: desire, leave, lot

yearning desire

A deep longing. I want to see as much as I can on my trip to England because I've always had a yearning desire to go there.
See also: desire

Desires are nourished by delays.

Prov. The longer you have to wait for something you want, the more eager you will be to get it. The longer I had to postpone my trip to San Francisco, the more eagerly I wanted to go. Desires are nourished by delays.
See also: delay, Desire, nourish

leave a lot to be desired

Cliché to be lacking something important; to be inadequate. (A polite way of saying that something is bad.) This report leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sorry to have to fire you, Mary, but your work leaves a lot to be desired.
See also: desire, leave, lot

leave something to be desired

to be not very good or not as good as you would like leave a lot to be desired And if you think my driving leaves something to be desired, his driving is even worse!
See also: desire, leave

leave a lot to be desired

to be not very good, or not as good as you would like leave something to be desired My tennis game is improving, but my backhand still leaves a lot to be desired.
See also: desire, leave, lot

leave a lot to be desired

to be much worse than you would like (never in continuous tenses) Apparently, Meg's cooking leaves a lot to be desired.
See also: desire, leave, lot

leave a lot to be desired

Also, leave a great deal or much to be desired . Be imperfect or unsatisfactory. For example, His account of the election leaves a lot to be desired. This usage can also be put in a more positive way, that is, leave nothing to be desired, meaning "to be perfectly satisfactory," as in His account leaves nothing to be desired. [Late 1700s]
See also: desire, leave, lot

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Uilleag-Irish
Alise (1)-Latvian
PŘEmek-Czech
Leda['li:də]
AsaAY-sə (English)Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
KathiKATH-eeEnglish