Learn English – The word that describes the things you do as a person

word-requestword-usage

I know that there is a term for the things someone does.
Little things, like the way you fold your arms or the filler words you use in your sentences.

I would like to know what the word is if anyone knows what I mean.

Best Answer

“Idiosyncrasy” is a great word for referring to the unique things a person does, while “mannerism” might suit certain uses better as a more general term:

mannerism

noun

  1. a habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving; an idiosyncrasy.

Source: Definition of “mannerism” in Oxford Dictionaries

For instance, I might say “[my pet] Aki has an idiosyncrasy where he's prone to running in circles when it's snowing at night.”¹ That is a specific behavior that is unique to that particular individual.

Conversely, I could say “David Cameron has adopted all the mannerisms of Tony Blair, including using his hands a lot to show he's sincere.”² Many people gesticulate or use their hands while talking, and some patterns resemble one another, so this is not an idiosyncracy of Cameron or Blair, but a common mannerism that they purportedly share.

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