What Does “Drill sth into sb” Mean?
“Drill sth into sb” means to teach someone something very firmly and repeatedly until they remember or understand it well.
Introduction
The phrase “drill sth into sb” is commonly used in English to describe the process of teaching or impressing an idea, fact, or skill onto someone by repeating it many times. It is often associated with strict or focused learning, where the teacher wants the learner to remember something clearly. Understanding the “drill sth into sb” meaning helps learners know how to use it in different contexts, such as in schools, workplaces, or daily life. This phrase emphasizes persistence and repetition, showing that the information or skill is important and must be learned thoroughly.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: drill something into somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to teach or make someone learn something by repeating it many times
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Drill sth into sb” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “drill” and “into,” or after “into somebody.”
- drill something into somebody
- drill somebody with something (less common)
Example pattern:
- Subject + drill + object + into + person
- They drilled the importance of safety into the workers.
Examples
- The teacher drilled the multiplication tables into the students every day.
- Parents often drill good manners into their children from a young age.
- It took a long time to drill the safety rules into the new employees.
- We need to drill the emergency procedures into all staff members.
- Drill sth into sb in a sentence: The coach drilled discipline into the team before the match.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She drilled into the students the new rules.
Correct: She drilled the new rules into the students. - Incorrect: They drilled the students with the lesson.
Correct: They drilled the lesson into the students.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “hammer sth into sb” and “instill sth in sb.”
- Hammer sth into sb: Similar meaning but sounds more forceful and informal.
- Instill sth in sb: Means to gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude, often more gentle than “drill.”
“Drill sth into sb” focuses on repetition and firmness, while “instill” focuses on gradual influence.
Common Collocations
- drill discipline into sb
- drill knowledge into sb
- drill safety rules into sb
- drill facts into sb
- drill skills into sb
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Our teacher really drilled the exam rules into us yesterday.
Tom: Yeah, I think she wants everyone to avoid mistakes.
Anna: It helped me remember everything clearly.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrasal verb:
The coach ________ discipline ________ the players to prepare them for the competition.
- a) drilled / into
- b) drilled / on
- c) drilled / through
- d) drilled / at
FAQs
- Q: Can “drill sth into sb” be used in informal conversations?
A: Yes, but it is more common in formal or educational contexts.
- Q: Is “drill” always used with “into”?
A: Yes, when using this phrasal verb, “into” is necessary to show the target person.
- Q: Can you use “drill” without an object?
A: No, the phrase needs an object (something) to be drilled into someone.
- Q: What is the difference between “drill into” and “hammer into”?
A: Both mean to teach firmly, but “hammer into” sounds more forceful and informal.
- Q: Is “drill sth into sb” a separable phrasal verb?
A: Yes, you can separate the object and place it before or after “into.”
