behind the wheel
77
3.4
- idiom
:
al volante
- So you had one hour behind the wheel of that car to prepare for a qualifying session.
- behind the wheel of a car
- sit behind the wheel
- behind-the-wheel instruction
I threw up in my own lap behind the wheel on the freeway.
- I threw up in my own lap behind the wheel on the freeway.
- But this car really shines when you get behind the wheel.
- And I am so glad to finally be behind the wheel of my Pereira GT.
- Well, the gal is pumping the gas, the guy is sitting behind the wheel.
- So I was contacted because a television station wanted to do a piece on a blind person behind the wheel of a self driving vehicle.
- Truthfully, it's because everything from sitting behind the wheel to seeing it in my garage makes me feel like it's too good for me.
- And if the SAT NAV goes out, OK, man, you're still behind the wheel driving a fucking vehicle.
- Look, my favorite seat for thought has always been behind the wheel of whatever truck I'm, I'm driving.
- That way, the computer should at least be no more evil behind the wheel than a human would be.
- So when they're done at the bar, Karen gets behind the wheel, John O'Keefe gets in the car and they drive to that friend's house.
Examples
-
Paul opens the door for Louise, shuts her safely in, and gets behind the wheel.
Fiction book (1991) -
Go on, get behind the wheel.
-
A Model S will drive from LA to New York with someone behind the wheel but not doing anything.
-
Just as long as I was behind the wheel, I was good.
-
You should have seen me behind the wheel of that mustang.
-
I'm old, and I'm tired... but when I'm behind the wheel of this car, I'm a young buck again.
-
And I am so glad to finally be behind the wheel of my Pereira GT.
-
Martin apologized again, closed the rear door, slid behind the wheel, and drove away.
Fiction book (1994) -
The driver was napping contentedly behind the wheel with the motor running.
Fiction book (1994) -
Every Friday, he enjoys being behind the wheel of his vintage car while driving along the coast.
Synonyms
19
4.3
In charge of a situation or group and guiding what happens
17
4.4
Being in control of a situation and making the decisions
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'in control of or driving a motor vehicle' is directly derived from combining 'behind' (in a rear/position) with 'wheel' (the steering wheel); being physically behind the wheel naturally implies driving or control. This spatial-compositional relation is common across languages and follows normal English usage, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Behind the wheel comes from the picture of a person sitting behind a car's steering wheel, hands on it. So, being behind the wheel means 'driving' or 'in control' of the vehicle.