hunker down
Brace and wait
To hunker down is to settle in for an extended period, especially in preparation for difficulty or danger: We hunkered down for the hurricane.
The phrase combines the physical sense of hunker—squatting low with weight on the heels—with the idea of digging in and staying put.
It implies both bracing for something and refusing to budge: The senator hunkered down and waited for the scandal to blow over.
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- basementSubterranean building level
- storm cellarSubterranean severe weather refuge
- safe roomFortified household refuge
- refugePlace of safety
sanctuary · hideaway · haven · retreat · bomb shelter · fallout shelter · shelter-in-place · ride out
Reduced, potent form
- zero inFocus with precision
- dig inBegin a meal
- apply oneselfFocus diligently on something
- settle inBecome comfortably established
get serious · commit · dedicate · immerse · engage · intensify · get to work · nose to grindstone
Continue firmly onward
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- hold outRefuse to concede
- hang inContinue despite hardship
- stick it outPersist despite difficulty
tough it out · see it through · soldier on · press on · stay the course · keep going · push through · grit
bunker
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- basementSubterranean building level
- storm cellarSubterranean severe weather refuge
- safe roomFortified household refuge
refuge · sanctuary · hideaway · haven · retreat · bomb shelter · fallout shelter · shelter-in-place · ride out · take cover
concentrate
Reduced, potent form
- zero inFocus with precision
- dig inBegin a meal
- apply oneselfFocus diligently on something
get serious · settle in · commit · dedicate · immerse · engage · intensify · get to work · nose to grindstone · lock in
squat
Crouching on bent legs
bend · crouch · lower · scrunch · scooch · huddle · curl up · cower · shrink · cringe
persist
Continue firmly onward
stick it out · tough it out · see it through · soldier on · press on · stay the course · keep going · push through · grit · determination
- body movementsflexion, bend, twist, standing, extension
- focusfocus, concentration, attention, focal point, concentrate
- hidinghide, conceal, take cover, hole up, go underground
- staying putwait, staying, linger, waiting, remain
- adaptadapt, adjust, acclimate, accommodate, accustom
- expressions about containmentboxed in, bottled up, hemmed in, penned in, locked in
hunker downstand up
Rise to feet
rise · get up · straighten up · stand tall · spring up
down, hunk, hunky, hunks, hunker, hunkered, hunkers, hunkering