board up
phr. v..phr. v.. to cover a window or door with wooden boards to keep people out or protect a building.
phr. v.. to seal or secure an opening or a building by fastening wooden planks across it; typically used for protection against weather or to prevent unauthorized entry.
They board up the windows before the storm hits.
The shop has been closed for years, and the owner finally decided to board up the front to prevent vandalism.
As the hurricane approached the coast, residents worked tirelessly to board up their homes, hoping to minimize structural damage from the high winds.
usually used with windows, doors, or entire buildings as the object.
this is a literal phrasal verb where 'up' implies completion or sealing; it is often seen in news reports about natural disasters or urban decay.
They boarded the house up.They boarded up the house.While technically separable, it is much more common to keep 'board up' together before the object in this context.