make one tick

make one tick {v. phr.}

To cause to operate; to motivate.

He is so secretive that we are unable to figure out what makes him tick.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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tick off

[tick off] {v.} 1. To mention one after the other; list. * /The teacher ticked off the assignments that Jane had to do./ 2. To scold; rebuke. * /The boss […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

not to know what to make of

[not to know what to make of] {v. phr.} To be unable to decipher; be unable to identify; not know how to decide what something really is. * /I got […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

make neither head nor tail of

[make neither head nor tail of] {v. phr.} To be unable to figure something out. * /This puzzle is so complicated that I can make neither head nor tail of […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

make sure

[make sure] {v. phr.} To see about something yourself; look at to be sure. * /Father makes sure that all the lights are off before he goes to bed./ * […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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pass by the board

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Arjay Miller, Dean of Stanford GSB

Don't do anything you wouldn't be willing to explain on television.