make somebody tick

But worst of all, the author has little sense of what makes a narrative tick.

"That's the lot," she said, making a final tick on her list.

With a pen, he made a tick against one of the first names on the list.

"All right," she agreed reluctantly, and made a tick on the sheet.

The old scientist made a final tick on the list and put down the board.

Well make a big tick sticking out like there's does.

He made a good, thick black tick against Janet White's name.

He made a tick on a white sheet of paper.

I've really had to learn what makes a 2-year-old tick.

On my mental checklist I made a tick that meant this one would stay right where he was.