battening down the hatches
Preparing for storms
Battening down the hatches is preparing for trouble or difficulty.
The phrase comes from securing a ship's hatches with strips of wood (battens) before a storm.
Now mostly figurative: With layoffs coming, everyone's battening down the hatches.
The present participle form emphasizes ongoing preparation rather than completed action.
- fortifyingMaking stronger or sturdier
- shipboardOn a vessel
- rough seasTurbulent ocean conditions
- safeguardingPreventing harm or loss
- fasteningJoining two parts together
securing · preempting · insulating · mooring · protecting · rigging · anticipating · worst case scenario · bracing · brace for impact · hunker down · shielding · stormy weather · weather the storm · waterproofing · sealing · anchoring · tight ship
battening down the hatchesresting on one's laurels
Relying on past accomplishments
burying one's head in the sand · tempting fate · throwing caution to the wind · courting disaster · whistling past the graveyard
battening down the hatchesopening up
Becoming less guarded
letting it all hang out · opening the floodgates · unsealing · unlocking · exposing
battening down the hatchesthrowing caution to the wind
rolling the dice · going for broke · betting the farm · living dangerously · winging it
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