to drum up
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To get together unexpectedly or in an emergency, as "to drum up a meal.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to drum up” mean?
To get together unexpectedly or in an emergency, as "to drum up a meal.
Is “to drum up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.