The soldiers received their pay on the drum.
on the drum
idiomMoney in the form of paper currency or coins, paid immediately at the time and place of a transaction, especially to a soldier as pay or bonuses.
The captain promised the troops their bonuses on the drum before they marched out to the front lines.
In an era before electronic banking, the commander insisted that the men receive their wages on the drum to ensure immediate payment.
- 01
beat the drum for
To give voice to one's support of; to promote or publicize.
- 02
drum into
To repeat something to a (person) until they accept, remember or understand it.
- 03
drum out
To remove, especially unfairly, from an organization or position of responsibility.
- 04
drum up
To generate or encourage; to campaign for.
- 05
march to the beat of a different drum
To do things in one's own way regardless of societal norms and conventional expectations.