1 : to prepare for possible trouble or difficulty People are battening down in preparation for a fierce storm. 2 : to tie, close, or cover (something) in order to prevent it from moving or becoming damaged Everything on the ship's deck was battened down.

What is the origin of batten down the hatches?

The English phrase batten down the hatches comes from the way sailors made old ships watertight during storms. Has anyone ever told you to batten down the hatches? If so, they were telling you to prepare for trouble. ... Batten down the hatches is what sailors used to say when a real storm was coming.

What does button down the hatch mean?

phrase. If someone battens down the hatches, they prepare themselves so that they will be able to survive a coming difficulty or crisis. Many firms are battening down the hatches and preparing to ride out the storm.