hunker down
[ huhng-ker doun ]
/ ˈhʌŋ kər ˈdaʊn /
verb phrase
to crouch or squat on one’s heels: Some of the taller kids have trouble with the exercises that involve a lot of hunkering down.
- to hide out or take shelter, often for just a few hours or less, as from a pursuer or a storm: Runaways hunkered down in all sorts of places along the Underground Railroad. Rain pelted our boat through the night, but we were able to hunker down in a small harbor until daybreak.
- to settle in to the safety of one’s home or other designated shelter for a potentially prolonged time, as would be necessitated by a natural disaster or an outbreak of a contagious disease: Before hunkering down, we made sure we had enough food, water, batteries, and first-aid supplies to last at least three weeks.
to hold resolutely or stubbornly to a policy, opinion, etc., when confronted by criticism, opposition, or unfavorable circumstances: Rather than moving toward compromise, both sides continue to hunker down.
to give one’s full and earnest attention to a project, assignment, or other obligation: No partying for me this weekend—I’ve got to hunker down and finish this term paper.
Words nearby hunker down
hungover,
hungry,
hungtow island,
hunk,
hunker,
hunker down,
hunkers,
hunkpapa,
hunks,
hunky,
hunky-dory
Definition for hunker down (2 of 2)
hunker
[ huhng-ker ]
/ ˈhʌŋ kər /
verb (used without object)
to squat on one's heels (often followed by down).
- to hunch: The driver hunkered over the steering wheel.
- to hide, hide out, or take shelter (usually followed by down): The escaped convicts hunkered down in a cave in the mountains.
- to hold resolutely or stubbornly to a policy, opinion, etc., when confronted by criticism, opposition, or unfavorable circumstances (usually followed by down): Though all the evidence was against him, he hunkered down and refused to admit his guilt.
Slang.
to lumber along; walk or move slowly or aimlessly.
noun
hunkers,
one's haunches.
Origin of hunker
First recorded in 1710–20; apparently
hunk (perhaps nasalized variant of
huck “haunch”; akin to Old Norse
hūka “to crouch”) +
-er6
British Dictionary definitions for hunker down
hunker
/ (ˈhʌŋkə) /
verb
(intr often foll by down)
to squat; crouch