what
.Tick
refers to a watch or clock.) •I don't know what makes it tick.
•What makes John tick? I just don't understand him.
•I took apart the radio to find out what made it tick.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
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 off — verb put a check mark on or near or next to Please check each name on the list tick off the items mark off the units • Syn: ↑check, ↑check off, ↑mark, ↑mark off, ↑tick … Useful english dictionary
tick — 1 noun 1 (C) a mark () written next to an answer, something on a list etc, to show that it is correct or has been dealt with check 2 (9) AmE: Put a tick in the box if you agree with this statement. 2 (C) a very small animal like an insect that… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
tick — tick1 [tık] n [Sense: 1,3 5; Date: 1200 1300; Origin: Origin unknown.] [Sense: 2; Origin: Old English ticia] 1.) BrE a mark written next to an answer, something on a list etc, to show that it is correct or has been dealt with American Equivalent … Dictionary of contemporary 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 — [tɪk] verb I 1) [I] if a clock or watch ticks, it makes a quiet sound every second 2) [T] British to mark something with the symbol ✓ to show that it is correct or that you have dealt with it • what makes sb tick informal the basic aspects of… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
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
tick off — v. indicate that something has been done or completed by putting a check mark or a tick next to it (e.g.: I made a list of the things you have to do, please tick off each one when you complete it ); (Slang) irritate a person; make a person angry; … English contemporary dictionary
give someone hell — (informal) 1 when I found out I gave him hell: REPRIMAND SEVERELY, rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid, reprove, scold, berate, remonstrate with, reprehend … Useful english dictionary
mark — mark1 W2S3 [ma:k US ma:rk] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(dirt)¦ 2¦(damaged area)¦ 3¦(coloured area)¦ 4¦(writing)¦ 5¦(level/number)¦ 6¦(student s work)¦ 7 full/top marks for effort/trying/persistence etc 8 high/low mark 9 make/leave your … Dictionary of contemporary English
check — A commercial demand deposit instrument signed by the maker and payable on the presentation to the bank on which it is drawn. American Banker Glossary A bill of exchange representing a draft on a bank from deposited funds that pays a certain sum… … Financial and business terms
