Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[wangfeel]

Does "make it tick" mean "maike it work"?

What's the difference? When do use it? For something correct for a red tick?

I saw it used in "People want to know computers and what makes them tick."

help me?
_________________
"Watch flower flowering and searing
Stay or leave has no sense
Clouds curling and stretching
Like or dislike is no surprising " from old Chinese saying

[bud]

Hi Wangfeel,

Yes, in your sample sentence it is an informal way of saying 'how does it work.'

Sometimes we talk about 'what makes somebody tick.' Then we might be talking about how they think (their motivations, goals, ways of dealing with problems, etc.). More often we are talking about what 'turns them on' (what gives them great excitement).

Good job!