what makes someone tick

idiomPart oftick

what makes someone tick — idiom

1. the hidden desires, feelings, or motivations that explain why a person behaves t

1.idiom
Definition

the hidden desires, feelings, or motivations that explain why a person behaves the way they do.

Example

Asher has always been curious about what makes people tick — their hidden hopes and fears.

After twenty years of marriage, Gita still did not fully understand what made her husband tick.