Prepare for trouble.

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.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'batten down the hatches':

Batten Down the HatchesTo prepare for any sort of emergency before time by taking proper measures
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    "batten down the hatches." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/batten-down-the-hatches_2259>.

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