batten down the hatches en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From the practice aboard a ship of sealing hatches to prevent water getting below-decks in a storm by using covers secured by strips of material, called battens, firmly attached to the frame of the hatch opening.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To prepare for trouble.
It's time to batten down the hatches and prepare for the coming challenge.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| battening down the hatches | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| battened down the hatches | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| battened down the hatches | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| battens down the hatches | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (16)
pl przygotowywać się na najgorsze (to prepare for trouble) · fr condamner les panneaux (nautical: to cover the hatches) · de sich warm anziehen (to prepare for trouble) · pl zasłonić luki (nautical: to cover the hatches) · nb skalke lukene (nautical: to cover the hatches) · it correre ai ripari (to prepare for trouble) · ru задраить люки (nautical: to cover the hatches) · fi sulkea luukut (nautical: to cover the hatches) · it prepararsi al peggio (to prepare for trouble) · fi valmistautua vaikeuksiin (to prepare for trouble) · fr se préparer au pire (to prepare for trouble) · es cerrar las escotillas (nautical: to cover the hatches) · de die Schotten dicht machen (nautical: to cover the hatches) · it chiudere i boccaporti (nautical: to cover the hatches) · pl przygotować się na najgorsze (to prepare for trouble) · pl zasłaniać luki (nautical: to cover the hatches)