desire
(redirected from desired)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
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
leave a lot 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 and a story that has quite a bit of potential, but the final product leaves a lot to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves a lot to be desired nonetheless.
desires are nourished by delays
One's interest in something will grow as one waits for it. A: "Ugh, I still haven't heard back from the recruiter at my dream job." B: "At least desires are nourished by delays."
leave something to be desired
To be somewhat inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack an indeterminate portion of what is desired or required. The film has a very interesting premise, but the final product leaves something to be desired. I wasn't expecting a huge amount from a budget hostel, but this place leaves something to be desired nonetheless.
gratify (one's) desires
euphemism To have sexual intercourse with someone. If he didn't come home last night, I bet it's because that hot chick he met at the bar gratified his desires, if you know what I mean.
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.
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.
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]
your heart's desire
LITERARYIf someone or something is your heart's desire, you want that person or thing very much. Note: The heart is traditionally regarded as the centre of the emotions. He was extremely dishonest in his efforts to achieve his heart's desire.
See also: desire
your heart's desire
someone or something that is greatly wished for.See also: desire