To Batten Down the Hatches (Origin)

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Origin of the Saying "To Batten Down the Hatches"?

To batten down the hatches means to prepare for pending trouble. 

To batten down the hatches is a nautical term from the early 19th century. When a ship was about to enter rough seas, the captain would order the crew to batten down the hatches. The crew would close all the hatches (doors) on the ship’s decks and use lengths of batten (rods) to secure the hatches in the closed position.

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To Batten Down the Hatches (Origin)

Examples of Use:

  • The storm was approaching, so they had to batten down the hatches and secure everything before it hit.
  • With the hurricane warning, the residents were advised to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worst.
  • As the deadline approached, the team had to batten down the hatches and work tirelessly to complete the project.
  • Before leaving for their vacation, they made sure to batten down the hatches at home, ensuring everything was secure and safe.
  • With the pandemic spreading, it was essential to batten down the hatches and take necessary precautions to protect oneself and others.

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What are idioms? What is figurative language? A list of common grammar errors A list of easily confused words A list of sayings and proverbs