Drum up business

Meaning

Generate interest or customers.

Usage

Used when marketing or outreach is needed to boost sales.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Military drummers marched to attract attention; businesses followed suit.

19th-century merchants borrowed the metaphor from army parades.