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

See Examples For:

batten down the hatches

Stay safe this weekend and batten down the hatches.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 24, 2026

Banks have looked to batten down the hatches in response.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025

So regardless of what Nvidia says Wednesday, investors don’t have to batten down the hatches just yet.

From Barron's ● Nov. 19, 2025

While some were scrambling to batten down the hatches, however, others were taking a different approach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2023

You’re doing the Castros a disservice, particularly Mrs. Castro, who is worrying after her daughter 24-7, in prescribing this under siege, batten down the hatches mentality.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin