batten down the hatches
US /ˈbæt.ən daʊn ðə ˈhætʃ.ɪz/
UK /ˈbæt.ən daʊn ðə ˈhætʃ.ɪz/
1.
to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation
:
•
With the storm approaching, we need to batten down the hatches and secure everything.
•
The company is facing tough economic times, so they're battening down the hatches by cutting expenses.