drum
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!
drum (something) into (someone's) head
To educate someone of something through intense and frequent repetition. The teacher tried drumming the material into their heads before the statewide exam, but he was still concerned they weren't getting it. You never listen to what I'm telling you! Do I have to drum it into your head, or what?
march to (the beat of) a different drum
To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of a different drum. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to a different drum, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a counter-cultural way?
march to (the beat of) (one's) own drum
To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of his own drum. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to your own drum, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a counter-cultural way?
pay with the roll of the drum
To avoid paying a debt. If you keep paying with the roll of the drum, you will soon owe me hundreds of dollars!
bang the drum
To voice one's support for something. Quit banging the drum for that candidate—he is simply not qualified for the job.
beat the drum (for)
To voice one's support for something. Quit beating the drum for that applicant—he is simply not qualified for the job. At first the legislation didn't seem to have much support, but recently I've seen some people beating the drum online.
march to (the beat of) a different drummer
To do something or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of a different drummer.
drum into (one)
To teach someone something through intense and frequent repetition. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "into." The teacher tried drumming the material into them before the statewide exam, but he was still concerned they weren't getting it. You never listen to what I'm telling you! Do I have to drum it into you, or what?
See also: drum
drum on (something)
To beat rhythmically on something. I drummed on the counter while waiting for the bank teller to process my transaction.
drum out
1. To beat the rhythm of something, such as a song, so that someone can learn it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "out." Drum it out again, and I'll try to play along this time.
2. To oust someone publicly, often amid scandal. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "out." The CEO was drummed out once the papers started reporting on his embezzlement of company funds.
drum out of (something)
To oust someone publicly, often amid scandal. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "out." The CEO was drummed out of the company once the papers started reporting on his embezzlement of company funds.
drum up
1. To work to gain or incite something, often interest or support. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "up." What else can we do to drum up more support for our campaign? I try to drum up enthusiasm for trigonometry, but my students are just not interested.
2. To create or devise something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "drum" and "up." We need to drum up a story before mom gets home and sees the vase we broke.
(as) tight as a drum
1. Exceptionally taut; stretched very tight, as the skin of a drumhead. The muscles in his arms and back bulged as he lifted the crate, his skin as tight as a drum. They rushed the child to hospital when his abdomen became tight as a drum due to the swelling.
2. Sealed so tightly or securely that water or air is unable to escape or enter. It's a lost art, being able to caulk a boat until it's as tight as a drum. The suit is tight as a drum to keep inclement weather conditions out, but the lack of ventilation turns it into something of a sauna while you wear it.
beat the drum for someone or something
and bang the drum for someone or somethingFig. to promote or support someone or something. (As if one were beating a drum to get attention.) I spent a lot of time beating the drum for our plans for the future. The senator is only banging the drum for his special interests.
drum on something
to tap, thump, or beat on something in rhythm. Who is drumming on the table? Please stop drumming on the wall.
drum someone out of something
and drum someone outFig. to expel or send someone away from something, especially in a formal or public fashion. They drummed Bill out of the bridge club for having a bad attitude. The corps drums out a few cadets each year.
drum something into someone
and drum something into someone's head; drum something inFig. to teach someone something intensely. Her mother had drummed good manners into her. She drummed in good manners day after day.
See also: drum
drum something out
to beat a rhythm, loudly and clearly, as if teaching it to someone. Drum the rhythm out before you try to sing this song. Drum out the rhythm first.
drum something up
to obtain something by attracting people's attention to one's need or cause. I shall try to drum up support for the party. You shall have to drum up new business by advertising. I need to do something to drum some business up.
*tight as a drum
1. stretched tight. (*Also: as ~.) Julia stretched the upholstery fabric over the seat of the chair until it was as tight as a drum. The skin on his scalp is tight as a drum.
2. sealed tight. (*Also: as ~.) Now that I've caulked all the windows, the house should be tight as a drum. Your butterfly died because the jar is as tight as a drum.
3. and *tight as Midas's fist very stingy. (*Also: as ~.) He won't contribute a cent. He's as tight as a drum. Old Mr. Robinson is tight as Midas's fist. Won't spend money on anything.
beat into one's head
Also, knock or drum into one's head . Force one to learn something. For example, Hard as I try, I can't seem to beat the correct safe combination into my head, or He promised to drum the numbers into my head by morning, or Whether we liked it or not, the English department was determined to knock Shakespeare into our heads . Although beat implies violence, the first term, from the early 1500s, usually alludes more to a repeated striking of blows, that is, repetition or drilling; likewise with drum (alluding to drumbeats), which dates from the early 1800s.
beat the drum for
Praise, promote, publicize, as in He's always beating the drum for his division, which actually has done very well. This term transfers the literal striking of a drum for ceremonial or other purposes to touting the virtues of a person, group, or product. [Mid-1900s]
drum out
Expel or dismiss publicly and in disgrace, as in They drummed him out of the club. This usage, which alludes to dismissal from a military service to the beat of a drum, began to be applied to civilian expulsions in the mid-1700s.
drum up
1. Bring about by persistent effort, as in I'm trying to drum up more customers, or We have to drum up support for this amendment. This expression alludes to making repeated drumbeats. [Mid-1800s]
2. Devise, invent, obtain, as in He hoped to drum up an alibi. [Mid-1800s]
tight as a drum
Taut or close-fitting; also, watertight. For example, That baby's eaten so much that the skin on his belly is tight as a drum, or You needn't worry about leaks; this tent is tight as a drum. Originally this expression alluded to the skin of a drumhead, which is tightly stretched, and in the mid-1800s was transferred to other kinds of tautness. Later, however, it sometimes referred to a drum-shaped container, such as an oil drum, which had to be well sealed to prevent leaks, and the expression then signified "watertight."
bang the drum
orbeat the drum
If you bang the drum or beat the drum for something or someone, you support them strongly and publicly. The trade secretary promised to `bang the drum for industry'. If the French want to beat the drum on behalf of French culture, good luck to them.
beat (or bang) the drum for (or of)
be ostentatiously in support of.bang/beat the ˈdrum (for somebody/something)
(especially British English) speak with enthusiasm in support of somebody/something: She’s really banging the drum for the new system.march to (the beat of) a different ˈdrummer/ˈdrum
(also march to a different ˈtune less frequent) behave in a different way from other people; have different attitudes or ideas: She was a gifted and original artist who marched to a different drummer.drum up
v.
1. To bring something about by continuous, persistent effort: The advertising firm drummed up new business for us. The manager tried to drum interest up in the computer training classes.
2. To obtain or resourcefully put together something that one needs; come up with something: The witness drummed up an alibi during the trial. We drummed some volunteers up for the project.
beat the drum for someone/something
tv. to promote or support someone or something. I spent a lot of time beating the drum for our plans for the future.