[leave] {sth} to be desired

to fail to fulfill one's expectations

The idiom "leave a lot to be desired" originated in the late 1700s. It is used to express that something is imperfect, unsatisfactory, or not as good as it should be. The phrase is used to imply that the quality or standard of something falls short of expectations or requirements

The new software's user interface leaves a lot to be desired, making it difficult to navigate.
The company's customer service leaves much to be desired, with long wait times and unhelpful responses.
The quality of the product leaves something to be desired, as it often malfunctions.
The cleanliness of the hotel room left a lot to be desired, with visible dust and dirt.
His performance in the interview left much to be desired, and he didn't get the job.