Idiom: what makes someone tick
Meaning
Idiom: what makes someone tick
- the reasons for someone’s behavior
- what motivates someone
Example sentences
— I wonder what makes my father-in-law tick. He never says anything and shows little emotion.
— Historians have tried for years to understand what makes the world's dictators tick.
— Years of therapy never helped me understand what makes me tick.
— Investigators worked together to study clues about what made the serial murderer tick in order to try to capture him.
— I love reading sports biographies to understand what makes the greatest athlete's tick.
— A love of cooking is what made our grandmother tick.
— I'm married to the man and I still have no idea what makes him tick.
— Ms. Brown is a fascinating woman. Do you have any idea what makes her tick?
— I wish I hadn't read her diary but I wanted to know what made her tick.
Synonyms
- raison d'être
- the whys and wherefores
- someone's true colors
Download your free illustrated idioms eBook!
Want to expand your idiom knowledge even further? Download our free eBook, '25 Illustrated Idioms,' to learn more useful expressions with fun visuals that make understanding idioms a breeze. Sign up now to get your free copy!
You might like these idioms
More idioms will be added in the future so check back frequently or sign-up for my free newsletter to learn about new updates to my website.
- Home Page ›
- Idioms List ›
- Tier 3 Page Name
