take the wheel — to take control of a vehicle by driving it; to assume leadership or control of a situation
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to take control of a vehicle by driving it; to assume leadership or control of a situation
Pronunciation (IPA): /teɪk ðə wiːl/
Example Sentences
- My teenage son thinks he's ready to take the wheel, but I'm not so sure about his parking skills.
- After the CEO retired, his daughter took the wheel of the family business.
- When my GPS started giving directions to Mars, I knew it was time to take the wheel myself.
take the wheel
NOUN[/teɪk ðə wiːl/]
to take control of a vehicle by driving it; to assume leadership or control of a situation
someone taking the wheel to assume control of both the vehicle and the situation
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase originated from the literal act of grasping a vehicle's steering wheel, then evolved metaphorically to mean taking control or assuming leadership. The expression leverages the physical gesture of steering a car as a metaphor for directing a course of action or making decisions.
Breakdown
take (grasp, seize) + wheel (steering mechanism, helm) — the combination of these elements creates the idiomatic meaning of assuming control or leadership.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My teenage son thinks he's ready to take the wheel, but I'm not so sure about his parking skills.”
“After the CEO retired, his daughter took the wheel of the family business.”
“When my GPS started giving directions to Mars, I knew it was time to take the wheel myself.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.