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to take the wheel

to take the wheel

23 4.7
To drive a car or have control of a situation
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : tomar el control
  • After the previous manager resigned, Sarah decided to take the wheel and lead the project herself.
  • let me take the wheel
  • want you to take the wheel
  • take the wheel now

And then a moment later you go, Greg, take the wheel, grabs the wheel and turns it.

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Examples

  • "I'll take the wheel, and we'll get back to port."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • In my district, we have taken the wheel and are leading our party in the direction of Liberty.

    Blog text (13)
  • Link will take the wheel next week and get a little bit more serious.

  • Hey, you wanna take the wheel?

  • Let me take the wheel.

  • When I gave up and let God take the wheel, things started happening.

    Blog text (7)
  • Julian, here, take the wheel.

  • "Mark!" my father shouted, "Take the wheel!"

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Mr. Hawthorne was letting the other men take the wheel, but nobody thought to offer that responsibility to the boy.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • But thank the Lord Everett can take the wheel for the two hours to Mississippi.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to take over
vsto take the wheel
862 3.1

Begin to control someone else's job or project

can mean assuming responsibility at any time, not only replacing others
to take control
vsto take the wheel
227 3.5

Start to have power and make decisions about something

adds the idea of accepting responsibility, not only gaining power
to call the shots
vsto take the wheel
  • Informal
99 4.2

To be in control and make the important decisions

covers taking responsibility but is less about decision authority specifically
to take charge
vsto take the wheel
98 3.5

Start to control a group or situation and lead others

focuses on taking control broadly, including actions and duty
to take the lead
vsto take the wheel
79 3.2

To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions

is about taking control or responsibility, not only starting actions
to take the helm
vsto take the wheel
12 4.4

To lead an organization, group, or project

is similar but applies both to formal leadership and everyday control
to take on the role
vsto take the wheel
10 3.1

Accept a job, responsibility, or part in a play

is about taking control or responsibility in a broader, not just job, sense
to grab the wheel
vsto take the wheel
5 5.0

To suddenly take control of a steering wheel in an emergency

covers assuming control calmly or urgently, not only sudden emergency action
to hold the reins
vsto take the wheel
  • Informal
3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

is broader and can mean any form of assuming responsibility
to carry the ball
vsto take the wheel
  • Informal
2 4.6

Lead a project or task and make sure it is finished

is broader, applying to control in many situations beyond projects
to assume the mantle
vsto take the wheel
  • Formal
1 7.3

To take on an important role as a leader

is practical assuming of control or responsibility without symbolic emphasis
to take the front seat
vsto take the wheel
  • Informal
1 4.2

To lead a group or activity and direct what people do

is about taking control or responsibility, not only prominence
to carry the mantle
vsto take the wheel
  • Formal
1 7.4

To take on responsibility as the next leader

is general taking of responsibility, not limited to succession
to take up the running of
vsto take the wheel
6.1

Start managing something after the previous person leaves

is the general act of assuming control, not only succession
to take up the running
vsto take the wheel
7.4

To start managing a task or group after someone else managed it

is broader, covering taking control both when replacing someone and otherwise

Antonyms

to relinquish
  • Formal
69 7.2

To give up control, a right, or something you own

How Much Control

to dominate
275 3.7
to seize
277 3.2
to take the wheel
23 4.7
to assist
605 1.0

Surface Forms

take the wheel infinitive
taking the wheel present participle
takes the wheel third person singular
taken the wheel past participle

Morphology

take + the + wheel

The core meaning (‘assume control’ or literally ‘take control of the steering wheel’) follows directly from combining 'take' (assume/hold) with 'wheel' (the device used to steer), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the literal driving sense and the obvious metaphorical extension to taking charge. This physical-to-figurative mapping is a common compositional pattern (e.g., take the helm) and is therefore readily predictable for learners.

Etymology

The phrase take the wheel comes from driving. When someone actually takes the wheel, they steer the car, so the phrase now means 'to assume control or responsibility'.