what makes someone tick

(informal)what motivates someone

(非正式)某人的行為（或思想）動機(jī)是，某人動機(jī)何在

people are curious to know what makes British men tick.

人們很想知道英國人生活的動力何在。

full (或 tight) as a tick

(informal)replete after eating (or very drunk)

(非正式)吃飽喝足；酩酊大醉

tick someone off

(Brit. informal)reprimand or rebuke someone

(英，非正式)責(zé)備；責(zé)罵

he was ticked off by Angela.

安吉拉責(zé)備了他。

[as noun ticking off]he got a ticking off from the magistrate.

他受到地方法官的斥責(zé)。

(N. Amer. informal)make someone annoyed or angry

(北美，非正式)使生氣，使惱火

tick over

(of an engine) run slowly in neutral

（發(fā)動機(jī)）空轉(zhuǎn)；慢轉(zhuǎn)

tick off 【非正式用語】

To make angry or annoyed

激怒：使惱怒或氣憤

Constant delays ticked me off.

反復(fù)地耽擱使我很生氣