Yeonpyeong island 's 1200 civilians scattered as shells exploded and homes and buildings caught fire , witnesses said , with many residents hunkering down in bomb shelters or fleeing on boats .
In the u.s. , for example , the federal reserve seems to be hunkering down for an extended period of slow growth .
比方说在美国,美联储看来是放低身段准备应对长期的缓慢增长。
In other debt-ridden western countries , including much of the euro zone , vested interests and tribal voter blocks are hunkering down to resist reforms and defend dwindling privileges .