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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
💡 Concept

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!
🎵 Rhyme

Stir up passion, sum up the mission, drum up support with fierce ambition!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/drʌm ʌp/
🇬🇧 UK/drʌm ʌp/

🌳Etymology

Rootdrum
Suffix-up

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

sum up
churn up
stir up

🔗Collocations

drum up support
drum up business
drum up interest
drum up enthusiasm
drum up publicity
drum up customers

📝Examples

“The restaurant owner stood outside trying to drum up customers by offering free samples.”

😄 Fun example

“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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