batten down the hatches
Prepare for trouble, as in Here comes the boss—batten down the hatches. This term originated in the navy, where it signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens. [Late 1800s]
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Words nearby batten down the hatches
battel, battels, battement, batten, Battenburg, batten down the hatches, Batten-Mayou disease, batten plate, Batten's disease, batter, batter board
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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