To batten down the hatches means to prepare for pending trouble. To batten down the hatches is a nautical term from the early 19th century. When a ship was about to enter rough sea

When bad weather was imminent, the hatches were covered with tarpaulin and the covering was edged with wooden strips, known as battens, to prevent it from blowing off. Not surprisi

batten down the hatches phrase : to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation

Nov 16, 2025 · Verb batten down the hatches (third-person singular simple present battens down the hatches, present participle battening down the hatches, simple past and past par

Literary analysis for the phrase 'Batten Down the Hatches', with meaning, origin, and examples in literature and sentences.

When you're coming down with flu all you can do is batten down the hatches and wait for it to pass.

Dec 15, 2025 · This guide explains the idiom “Batten Down the Hatches”, its meaning, origins, usage in casual, workplace, and academic contexts, as well as professional altern

batten down the hatches to prepare for a difficult situation by doing everything you can to protect yourself

Mar 3, 2022 · The meaning of the saying, "batten down the hatches," is to prepare for trouble. You can use the phrase to describe any situation where you know or feel bad things a

Jun 15, 2023 · The idiom "batten down the hatches" basically means gearing up for tough times ahead. When people say it, they usually mean they're getting ready to deal with probl