hunker down

idiom

Meaning

To take shelter; to prepare oneself for some eventuality; to focus on a task.

Examples

SIMPLE

A big storm is coming, so we should hunker down inside.

CONTEXTUAL

With the final exam only two days away, I need to hunker down and finish my notes.

COMPLEX

As the economic crisis deepened, the company decided to hunker down and reduce all unnecessary spending until the market stabilized.

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Last updated April 17, 2026