drum up — to try to get support, interest, or business by making a lot of effort
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to try to get support, interest, or business by making a lot of effort
Pronunciation (IPA): /drʌm ʌp/
Example Sentences
- The restaurant owner stood outside trying to drum up customers by offering free samples.
- My lazy cat somehow managed to drum up sympathy by pretending to be sick whenever it was bath time.
- The startup company used social media to drum up excitement for their new product launch.
drum up
VERB[/drʌm ʌp/]
to try to get support, interest, or business by making a lot of effort

to try to get support, interest, or business by making a lot of effort

Stir up passion, sum up the mission, drum up support with fierce ambition!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase derives from an old practice of using drums to attract public attention in villages. When important announcements or recruitment notices needed to be made, townspeople would beat drums to gather crowds, which became the basis for the figurative meaning of generating interest or support.
Breakdown
drum (to beat or strike a drum) + up (to raise, lift, or bring into being) = to bring something into existence or create attention through active effort.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The restaurant owner stood outside trying to drum up customers by offering free samples.”
“My lazy cat somehow managed to drum up sympathy by pretending to be sick whenever it was bath time.”
“The startup company used social media to drum up excitement for their new product launch.”
“She tried to drum up volunteers for the charity event by promising free pizza.”
📚Related Words
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