batten down the hatches

Idioms  

1. 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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Example Sentences

“Batten down the hatches! Battle of Britain! RAF on offensive!”

From Literature

Stay safe this weekend and batten down the hatches.

From MarketWatch

As Scotland prepares to welcome in 2026, some residents will be getting ready to batten down the hatches, with a yellow snow and ice warning in force for much of the country.

From BBC

Banks have looked to batten down the hatches in response.

From The Wall Street Journal

Warning signs such as these can cause investors to think it’s time to sell bonds and batten down the hatches.

From Barron's