drum up
To try hard to get more people interested in something or to find more customers or help.
Meanings
To generate business, customers, or trade through active promotion or effort.
"The sales team spent the whole week drumming up new clients for the launch."
To gather support, enthusiasm, or interest for a cause, event, or idea through persistent effort.
"The charity tried to drum up support for its new fundraising campaign."
"We need to drum up more enthusiasm for the project."
— Widely cited as representative idiomatic usage in business and political journalism; not attributed to a single source.
To invent or fabricate something, such as an excuse or charge, by effort or manipulation.
"They couldn't drum up a single piece of evidence against her."
Very commonly used in business and political contexts. The object is typically abstract: 'business', 'support', 'interest', 'enthusiasm', 'trade'. Used in both British and American English.
Commonly used with
Forms
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