what makes (someone) tick
idiom
informal
: the things that cause someone to behave a certain way : the feelings, opinions, concerns, etc., that are parts of someone's personality
I've always wondered what makes people like that tick.
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“What makes (someone) tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20makes%20%28someone%29%20tick. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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