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Date: 1500-1600
Language: Dutch
Origin: drillen


2 verb
1 [intransitive and transitive]TITPG to make a hole in something using a drill:
Drill a hole in each corner.
drill into/through
He accidentally drilled into a water pipe.
drill for oil/water/gas etc
BP has been licensed to drill for oil in the area.
2 [transitive]SES to teach students, sports players etc by making them repeat the same lesson, exercise etc many times
drill somebody in something
She was drilling the class in the forms of the past tense.
drill somebody to do something
I acted instinctively because I had been trained and drilled to do just that.
The team were well-drilled.
3 [transitive]PMA to train soldiers to march or perform other military actions:
The sergeant was drilling the new recruits.
4 [transitive]TAC to plant seeds in rows using a machine

drill something into somebody

phrasal verb
to keep telling someone something until they know it very well:
Mother had drilled it into me not to talk to strangers.
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