batten down
Upper Intermediate (B2)neutral
To close everything tight and get ready before something bad happens.
"The crew worked quickly to batten down the hatches as the hurricane approached."
Hear it in context
Eliza Filby: Hard Work Is a Lie, This Is What Rich People Never Tell You
Trevor Noah · 52:01
you know if the hatches have been batten down like what happens now
Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence Series - EU Qualifier Finals
Call of Duty · 48:51
They'll have had to batten down the hatches a few times, slow things down.