incutir, gravar (na mente), martelar
1. To repeat something insistently so that it becomes firmly fixed in someone's mind; to teach or instill through repetition and emphasis
The teacher drummed the multiplication tables into her students' heads.
A professora martelou a tabuada na cabeça dos seus alunos.
2. To force an idea or fact into someone's awareness through persistent repetition
Parents drum safe driving habits into their teenage children.
Os pais incutem hábitos de direção segura em seus filhos adolescentes.
This phrasal verb is commonly used in educational contexts in both American and Brazilian English. It reflects the pedagogical approach of reinforcement and repetition. In Brazil, 'martelar' (literally 'to hammer') is frequently used colloquially as a more expressive equivalent, emphasizing the forceful nature of repeated instruction. The metaphor of 'drumming' suggests persistent, rhythmic repetition, much like the beating of a drum.
NYC Slang
pound it into someone's head, drill it into someone's skull
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