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beat the drum

beat the drum
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [beet stressed th ee druhm]
    • /bit stressed ði drʌm/
    • /biːt ðə drʌm/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [beet stressed th ee druhm]
    • /bit stressed ði drʌm/

Definitions of beat the drum words

  • noun plural beat the drum a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound. 1
  • noun plural beat the drum any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way. 1
  • noun plural beat the drum the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device. 1
  • noun plural beat the drum any rumbling or deep booming sound. 1
  • noun plural beat the drum a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound. 1
  • noun plural beat the drum eardrum. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of beat the drum

First appearance:

before 1535
One of the 29% oldest English words
1535-45; back formation from drumslade drum, drummer, alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag drumbeat, equivalent to trommel drum + slag beat (akin to slagen to beat; cognate with slay)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Beat the drum

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

beat the drum popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 87% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

beat the drum usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for beat the drum

verb beat the drum

  • perform — to carry out; execute; do: to perform miracles.
  • laud — to praise; extol.
  • proclaim — to announce or declare in an official or formal manner: to proclaim war.
  • observe — to see, watch, perceive, or notice: He observed the passersby in the street.
  • praise — the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.

Antonyms for beat the drum

verb beat the drum

  • blame — If you blame a person or thing for something bad, you believe or say that they are responsible for it or that they caused it.
  • denounce — If you denounce a person or an action, you criticize them severely and publicly because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil.
  • reproach — to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure.
  • disapprove — to think (something) wrong or reprehensible; censure or condemn in opinion.
  • deny — When you deny something, you state that it is not true.

See also

Matching words

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