at the wheel

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at the wheel

1. Literally, driving a vehicle (and thus sitting at the steering wheel). Don't worry, Katie's at the wheel, and she is very good at driving in the snow. I'm so excited to finally be at the wheel of my own car!

2. By extension, in charge; acting as the leader (of something). Jack is at the wheel, so I know they'll get this project done on time!

at (someone)

being argumentative or contentious with someone. She is always at him about something. I wish you weren't at me all the time over finances.

at

Fig. nothing small or unimportant. It's not a lot of money, but it's nothing to sneeze at. Our house isn't a mansion, but it's nothing to sneeze at. A few thousand dollars is nothing to be sneezed at!

at the wheel

1. operating the wheel that turns a ship's rudder; at the helm. The cabin boy was at the wheel with the captain close by.

2. operating the steering wheel of a car. Bobby was at the wheel when the car went off the road.

at the wheel

In command, in control. For example, Ann hated being told what to do; she wanted to be at the wheel by herself. The analogy here is to the steering wheel of an automobile or other vehicle, or the helm of a vessel. For a synonym, see at the helm.

at/behind the ˈwheel (of something)

driving a car: Who was at the wheel when the car crashed?

Wheel in this phrase refers to the steering wheel of a car.

at

/behind the wheel

1. Operating the steering mechanism of a vehicle; driving.

2. Directing or controlling; in charge.

at

/in one fell swoop

All at once.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

See also:

References in classic literature ?

Wolf Larsen motioned for me to come down, and when I stood beside him at the wheel gave me instructions for heaving to.

And as this idea of fulfilling Wolf Larsen's order persisted in my dazed consciousness, I seemed to see him standing at the wheel in the midst of the wild welter, pitting his will against the will of the storm and defying it.

View in context

Instruction at the wheel concentrates on forming the dome of clay and pulling up the clay wall to form a cylinder.

A practical approach to pottery at summer camp

When the tire deflates, the vehicle rides on two small oval contact patches at the wheel rim.

No air? No problem!

Uncooled wheel hub motors with approximately 150 Nm (110 lb-ft) of torque would give up to 600 Nm (440 lb-ft) of torque at the wheels in an all-wheel-drive application, though switching to cooled motors would raise this to a total of 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft), if required.

Around the eCorner: Siemens VDO integrates the drive, steering, braking, and suspension functions into wheel modules for greater efficiency and safety

This rating is the direct measure of the power available at the wheels. "If axle torque is not adequate, it's going to be difficult to be productive."

Load 'em up; versatility and productivity are key when considering material handling equipment