深沟高垒

深溝高壘
shēngōugāolěi

to dig deep trenches and build high defensive walls; to fortify one's position; to dig in

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 深 shēn old variant of 深 shēn
=1 深 shēn deep (lit. and fig.)
=2 沟 gōu
  1. ditch
  2. gutter
  3. groove
  4. gully
  5. ravine

classifier: 道
=2 沟 gōu
  1. (historical dictionaries only) sound of water
  2. sound of water
=2 沟 gōu alternative form of 沟 (gōu, “sound of water”)
=3 高 Gāo surname Gao
=3 高 gāo
  1. high
  2. tall
  3. above average
  4. loud
  5. your (honorific)
4 垒 lěi
  1. rampart
  2. base (in baseball)
  3. to build with stones, bricks etc