batten down the hatches

== English == === Etymology === From the practice aboard a ship of sealing hatches to prevent water getting below-decks in a storm by using covers secured by strips of material, called battens, firmly attached to the frame of the hatch opening. === Pronunciation === === Verb === batten down the hatches (third-person singular simple present battens down the hatches, present participle battening down the hatches, simple past and past participle battened down the hatches) (idiomatic) To prepare for trouble. ==== Usage notes ==== Other determiners (eg, these, those, all the) and modifiers (eg, virtual, financial) can modify hatches. ==== Translations ==== === See also === kitty bar the door === Further reading === “batten down the hatches”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present. “batten down the hatches, phrase”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. “batten down the hatches”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “batten down the hatches”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. “batten down the hatches”, in TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2026