The word that describes the things you do as a person

Question

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.

Answer 1

“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.

Answer 2

The closest match that comes to my mind is idiosyncrasy.

idiosyncrasy (plural idiosyncrasies)

1: A mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual

one of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first

1.1: A distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing:

the idiosyncrasies of the prison system

Answer 3

There are a few words that mean that. The first ones that come to mind are "habit" and "tendency."

Go on dictionary.com and check whether they are what you are looking for. If not, clarify your meaning further and I will see what other words will work. Hope this helps, Pyraminx

Answer 4

Personal.

Sometimes, the answer is very simply, very obvious—so obvious and so simple, that someone immersed in too many complexities forgets that simple exists.