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Meaning & use

behind the wheel

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/bɪˌhaɪnd ðə ˈwiːl/
US/bɪˌhaɪnd ðə ˈwiːl/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    In the driver's seat of a vehicle, steering it or ready to steer it.

    Grammar: Works as an adverbial after a verb: she sat behind the wheel.

    Patterns

    • get behind the wheel
    • be behind the wheel of something

    He climbed in and sat behind the wheel without saying a word.

    Police found the man asleep behind the wheel with the engine running.

    I never feel nervous behind the wheel on quiet country roads.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    Being the person who is driving or in charge of driving at a particular moment.

    Grammar: Often used in warnings about safety: never get behind the wheel after drinking.

    Patterns

    • get behind the wheel after something
    • who is behind the wheel

    Teenagers should not be behind the wheel after midnight in some states.

    Who was behind the wheel when the car left the road?

    Please do not get behind the wheel if you feel drowsy.

Common combinations

get behind the wheel
After two coffees, I got behind the wheel and set off.
fall asleep behind the wheel
Tired drivers sometimes fall asleep behind the wheel for just a second.
sit behind the wheel
She sat behind the wheel and adjusted the mirror.
caught behind the wheel
He was caught behind the wheel while texting.
back behind the wheel
After her injury, it felt strange to be back behind the wheel.

Synonyms and how they differ

driving
This is a plain verb form and says nothing about the seat, while behind the wheel paints a picture of someone sitting there.
at the wheel
It means almost the same, but it is a little more common when describing who was in control at a particular time.
in the driver's seat
Unlike behind the wheel, this also has a figurative sense meaning to be in control of any situation.

Opposites

in the passenger seat

Word family

wheel noun
a round part that turns, including the steering wheel
steering wheel noun
the wheel a driver turns to steer
behind preposition
at the back of, or on the far side of something

Commonly confused: behind the wheel or at the wheel?

behind the wheel vs at the wheel

Nearly identical in meaning, but 'at the wheel' is also used for boats, where 'behind the wheel' sounds odd.

Practice

The police officer asked who had been ___ when the car hit the fence.

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