# drum into

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drum-into
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to teach someone something by repeating it many times until they remember it. You use this when you want to make sure someone never forgets a rule or a fact.

For teachers: to instill knowledge or ideas through persistent and forceful repetition. Transitive; the information being taught usually functions as the direct object, followed by 'into' and the recipient.

## Examples

- My parents drummed the importance of hard work into me.
- The safety procedures were drummed into the new employees during their first week of intensive training.
- The fundamental principles of the scientific method were drummed into the students until they became second nature in every experiment.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The coach drummed the rules to the team." but "The coach drummed the rules into the team." — The phrase requires the preposition 'into' to convey the idea of information being forced into the mind.

## Usage notes

- The information being taught usually comes before 'into', while the person learning comes after it.
- Teaching tip: Use the image of a drum beat to explain the repetitive nature of the teaching method; it's more forceful than simply 'teaching'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.