Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
"deixar a desejar"
English translation:
left nothing to be desired
Added to glossary by
Luana Molena Xavier
Feb 3, 2009 12:50
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Portuguese term
Brazil
Marketing & Advertising - Eng - Port(BR)
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
"deixar a desejar"
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
conversas informais
"A quantidade de coisas na casa não deixava a desejar".
Seria "did not leave anything to be desired"??? Soa-me tão estranho!
Seria "did not leave anything to be desired"??? Soa-me tão estranho!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +3 | left nothing to be desired |
Amy Duncan (X)
|
| 4 | There were plenty of/enough things in the house |
Joana Almeida
|
| 3 | Left much to be desired |
Ligia Dias Costa
|
Proposed translations
+3
34 mins
Selected
left nothing to be desired
This is exactly the way it is said in English. :o)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Abigail Elvins
13 mins
|
|
Thanks, Abigail!
|
|
| agree |
Ivan Nieves
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, covelas!
|
|
| agree |
Gisele Guerra
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Gisele!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much, Amy! :)"
15 mins
Ligia Dias Costa
Portugal
Portugal
Native in Portuguese
Portugal
Translating with care
Native in: Portuguese (Variants: European/Portugal, Mozambican, Angolan, Brazilian, Cape Verdean) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, Spanish to Portuguese, and 3 more.
Left much to be desired
não tenho bem a certeza, mas acho que já ouvi isto
29 mins
Joana Almeida
Native in Portuguese
Professional Translator
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal)
Works in: German to Portuguese, English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English
There were plenty of/enough things in the house
Eu tentaria dar a volta à frase. Penso que esta seja uma expressão muito própria do Português.
Discussion
Nasci nos EUA e sempre ouvia essa expressão nos dois sentidos.