what makes someone tick

what makes someone tick
informal
the feelings and ideas that make someone behave the way that they do

an interviewer who is determined to find out what makes her subjects tick


English dictionary. 2014.

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  • what makes someone tick — informal phrase the feelings and ideas that make someone behave the way that they do an interviewer who is determined to find out what makes her subjects tick Thesaurus: general words for a person s charactersynonym parts of a person s… …   Useful english dictionary

  • what makes someone tick — what makes (someone) tick if you know what makes someone tick, you understand the reasons for their behaviour and personality. A good salesperson knows what makes a customer tick …   New idioms dictionary

  • what makes someone tick —    When you try to understand what motivates someone or makes them behave the way they do, you want to know what makes them tick.     He s a strange man. It s hard to figure out what makes him tick …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • what makes someone tick — informal what motivates someone. → tick …   English new terms dictionary

  • what makes tick — what makes (someone) tick if you know what makes someone tick, you understand the reasons for their behaviour and personality. A good salesperson knows what makes a customer tick …   New idioms dictionary

  • tick — tick1 [ tık ] verb * 1. ) intransitive if a clock or watch ticks, it makes a quiet sound every second 2. ) transitive BRITISH to CHECK something that is correct or something that has been dealt with: Tick the sentence that best describes your… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tick — [[t]tɪ̱k[/t]] ticks, ticking, ticked 1) N COUNT A tick is a written mark like a V. It is used to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. [mainly BRIT] His exercise books were full of well deserved red ticks... Place a… …   English dictionary

  • tick — tick1 noun 1》 Brit. a mark ( ) used to indicate that an item in a list or text is correct or has been chosen. 2》 a regular short, sharp sound, especially that made every second by a clock or watch.     ↘Brit. informal a moment. 3》 Stock Exchange… …   English new terms dictionary

  • tick — I. /tɪk / (say tik) noun 1. a slight, sharp recurring click or beat, as of a clock. 2. Colloquial a moment or instant: hang on just a tick. 3. a small mark, as a hooked, sloping dash (formed by two strokes at an acute angle) serving to draw… …  

  • tick — I UK [tɪk] / US verb Word forms tick : present tense I/you/we/they tick he/she/it ticks present participle ticking past tense ticked past participle ticked * 1) [intransitive] if a clock or a watch ticks, it makes a quiet sound every second 2)… …   English dictionary

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