What Does Ticking Mean?

Ticking is a cotton or linen textile that is tightly woven for durability and to prevent down feathers from poking through the fabric, and used to cover mattresses and bed pillows.

What does it mean when someone is ticking?

Fig. something that motivates someone; something that makes someone behave in a certain way.

What does a ticking off mean?

severe criticism because you have done something wrong: I gave her a real ticking-off yesterday.