batten down — phrasal verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms batten down : present tense I/you/we/they batten down he/she/it battens down present participle battening down past tense battened down past participle battened down 1) to make something such as a … English dictionary
batten down — phr verb Batten down is used with these nouns as the object: ↑hatch … Collocations dictionary
batten down the hatches — If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you … The small dictionary of idiomes
batten down the hatches — ► batten down the hatches 1) secure a ship s tarpaulins. 2) prepare for a difficulty or crisis. Main Entry: ↑batten … English terms dictionary
batten down the hatches — 1. To prepare for a crisis 2. Orig to secure the hatches on a ship against bad weather • • • Main Entry: ↑batten … Useful english dictionary
batten down the hatches — If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** When you batten down the hatches, you prepare yourself for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
batten down the hatches — to prepare yourself for a difficult period by protecting yourself in every possible way. When you re coming down with a cold, all you can do is batten down the hatches and wait for the body to fight it off … New idioms dictionary
To batten down — Batten Bat ten, v. t. To furnish or fasten with battens. [1913 Webster] {To batten down}, to fasten down with battens, as the tarpaulin over the hatches of a ship during a storm. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
batten down the hatches — Meaning Origin Nautical origin probably 18th century. A batten is a strip of wood; these were used to hold down sheets of canvas to cover hatchways in storms … Meaning and origin of phrases
batten down the hatches — 1》 Nautical secure a ship s tarpaulins. 2》 prepare for a difficult situation. → batten … English new terms dictionary
