Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./N.Z.) to inform, to ‘tip off’.

1908		Truth (Wellington) 11 Jan. 5/5: Don’t drum (tell) anyone that you are coming down here, for this town is full of narks (police spies).
1919		V. Marshall World of Living Dead (1969) 30: He impressed upon me the exact location of the maternal abode, and proceeded to ‘drum me up’ with the message.
1927		Smith’s Wkly 20 Aug. 11/1: Slanguage. No drummin’ the cow next t’ y’ .
1932		New Call (Perth, WA) 14 Jan. 2/4: ‘I’d better “drum” Gladys when she comes home’.
1944		L. Glassop We Were the Rats 122: I don’t wanter be a grape on the business, but what’s Clive gettin’ at? Won’t somebody drum me?
1953		D. Cusack Caddie 224: I saw the king pin [...] I drummed him about you bein’ crook.
1960		‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 47: ‘He’s only pullin’ yer leg, mate.’ ‘I dunno. If ’e isn’t there’s gunna be trouble, I’m drummin’ yer.’.
1968		S. Gore Holy Smoke 14: Faith, mate. That’s the shot. I’m drumming yer!
1983		J. Byrell (con. 1959) Up the Cross 64: They’d drum you that [...] when the weather got a bit peas-in-the-pot, she took to plastering herself [etc].
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 260: Kramer dumming me all the time to make sure no one goes near her tits.
1996		B. Scott Banshee and Bullocky 104: His mate had spotted them and drummed him in time for him to blow through.