# drum out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to force someone to leave a group or job because they did something bad. It usually means the person leaves in a shameful way.

For teachers: To dismiss someone from an organization or position, typically in disgrace. The verb is transitive and frequently appears in the passive voice, often followed by the preposition 'of'.

## Examples

- They drummed him out of the club for cheating.
- After the news of the bribe broke, the politician was drummed out of office by his own party members.
- The historical record shows that the captain was drummed out of the navy following a series of disastrous tactical errors that led to the loss of his entire fleet.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was drummed out the company." but "He was drummed out of the company." — The phrase requires the preposition 'of' before the noun phrase representing the organization.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the passive voice to focus on the person being removed.
- Teaching tip: Explain the military origin where a soldier was dismissed to the beat of a drum to emphasize the public nature of the dismissal.

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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.