Phrase guide

batten down the hatches

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To prepare for trouble.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • It's time to batten down the hatches and prepare for the coming challenge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: valmistautua vaikeuksiin — to prepare for trouble
  • French: se préparer au pire — to prepare for trouble
  • German: sich warm anziehen — to prepare for trouble
  • Italian: correre ai ripari — to prepare for trouble
  • Italian: prepararsi al peggio — to prepare for trouble
  • Polish: przygotowywać się na najgorsze — to prepare for trouble
  • Polish: przygotować się na najgorsze — to prepare for trouble
  • Finnish: sulkea luukut — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • French: condamner les panneaux — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • German: die Schotten dicht machen — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Italian: chiudere i boccaporti — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skalke lukene — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Polish: zasłaniać luki — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Polish: zasłonić luki — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Russian: задраить люки (zadraitʹ ljuki) — nautical: to cover the hatches
  • Spanish: cerrar las escotillas — nautical: to cover the hatches