1 B2 idiomatic neutral
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."
separable
drum up
B2 informal separable transitive
To generate or obtain something, especially support, business, or enthusiasm, through persistent effort.
In plain English
To try hard to get more people interested in something or to find more customers or help.
What does "drum up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
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.
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To beat a drum to summon or rally people — historically, drummers called soldiers or crowds to attention.
Actually means
To try hard to get more people interested in something or to find more customers or help.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "drum up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
business support interest enthusiasm trade customers
How to conjugate "drum up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
drum up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drums up
he/she/it
Past simple
drumed up
yesterday
Past participle
drumed up
have + pp
-ing form
druming up
continuous
Hear "drum up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "drum up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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