laisser at C1 — refined & idiomatic
On this page
Criticism, dismissal and indifference.
The idioms
Laisser à désirer means to leave something to be desired: « le service laisse à désirer ». It is the standard polite complaint, and it appears in reviews and reports constantly.
Ça me laisse froid means it leaves me cold, unmoved. And laisser tomber — to drop something, or to give up on it — is one of the most used idioms in the language, which is why it gets its own treatment at the native level.
💡 Focus at this level: Idiomatic — laisser à désirer
👨🏫 How to use « laisser » at this level
1. « Laisse à désirer » is polite criticism. Reviews, reports, feedback.
2. « Ça me laisse froid » = I’m indifferent.
3. « Laisser entendre » = to imply. Useful and subtle.
Le service laisse à désirer.The service leaves something to be desired.
Ça me laisse froid.That leaves me cold.
Il a laissé entendre qu’il partait.He implied he was leaving.
Laissez-moi vous expliquer.Let me explain.
🎮 Practise « laisser »
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