Drum up (image: jillhudgins)
To drum up means to produce something through focused and unshakable effort. This term is most often used when talking about developing new business.
For example, I traveled to North Carolina last week to drum up some new business for the 2009-2010 school year. I met with student leaders, administrators and professors to present MBA in the USA services, and secure requests for proposals. That plus the southern cooking made for an excellent trip!
