battened down the hatches
Prepared for trouble
Battened down the hatches is the past tense of batten down the hatches, originally a nautical command to secure a ship's cargo openings against heavy weather.
The phrase now means to prepare for trouble or difficulty: When we heard layoffs were coming, we battened down the hatches.
It suggests defensive preparation—bracing for impact rather than avoiding it.
- weather the stormEndure a difficult period
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- shore upStrengthen against failure
- hold the fortAssume temporary responsibility
- circle the wagonsAdopt collective defense
hunker down · brace · secure · tie down · nail down · storm · tighten one's belt · reinforce · lock and load · protect · anchor · gird one's loins · stay the course · anticipate · ride out the storm · rough seas · safeguard · shield
battened down the hatcheslet one's guard down
Cease being defensive
ignored warnings · winged it · caught napping · caught off guard · tempted fate
battened down the hatchesopened up
Became emotionally accessible
opened the floodgates · unsealed · let it all hang out · unlatched · exposed oneself
battened down the hatchestempted fate
Recklessly invited misfortune
played with fire · lived dangerously · rolled the dice · winged it
batten, battens, battening, hatches, hatched, hatching, hatchway, hatchways