to beat the drum
2
5.5
- idiom
- /biːt ðə drʌm/
:
defender con fervor
- He is still beating the drum of McCarthyism.
- beating the drum of war
- keep beating the drum
- continue to beat the drum
We are out there beating the drum to change the housing network.
- We are out there beating the drum to change the housing network.
- So that's imperialism that feels like it beats the drum of war.
- And so I've seen this meme going around and Republicans should just keep on beating the drum.
- But I think it's making it more difficult, right, for the Democrats to continue to beat the drum.
- And now they're starting to beat the drum that women are our enemy, women who don't have kids, women that have careers.
- So I want the Democrats to come out and just beat the drum that he is the biggest hypocrite, that MAGA Christians are hypocrites.
- As we discussed with Rod, the media seems to be beating the drum beat for us to do more.
Examples
-
And of course I beat the drum for Primus's platform.
Fiction book (1991) -
Freedom starts with rights for individuals. Together we all shall beat the drum until everyone knows the song by heart!
Blog text (19) -
We are out there beating the drum to change the housing network.
-
Carry on, Mr. Simon, and keep beating the drum.
Blog text (9) -
I will keep beating the drum for Joe Johnston.
Blog text (18) -
It is obvious that the tea party Republicans beat the drum for the wealthy.
Blog text (21) -
The mainstream media will beat the drums accordingly night and day, over and over again, pounding it into our brains how the economy is booming again.
Blog text (28) -
Activists have been beating the drum for climate change awareness in the community.
-
The company is beating the drum for its new product launch to attract more customers.
-
He often beats the drum for education reform at public forums and community meetings.
Synonyms
51
6.1
To shout loudly to demand something, often with other people
26
4.1
To try to get more interest or support by telling people about something
1
6.3
Speak strongly in public to support a person, idea, or cause
1
9.5
To promote something loudly and with exaggeration to get attention
Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public
To give loud, cheerful support to someone to encourage them
Antonyms
How Forceful
2
5.5
344
3.9
343
3.7
59
3.7
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase evokes the literal image of repeatedly striking a drum to attract attention or rally people, so a B1 learner who knows 'beat' and 'drum' could plausibly infer a sense of publicizing or calling support. However, the specific sense of actively campaigning or forcefully advocating is a metaphorical extension tied to cultural/pragmatic knowledge and is not fully predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Beat the drum may come from the image of someone loudly beating a drum at public meetings or marches to call people and get them excited about a cause. That's why it now means 'to speak or act strongly and publicly in support of an idea'.