at the helm

at the helm — idiom

1. in the position of being the leader or main decision-maker for a group, company,

1.慣用語B2
釋義

in the position of being the leader or main decision-maker for a group, company, or project — like a captain who steers a ship, you set the direction and take responsibility for what happens.

例句

Folake has been at the helm of the software startup for three years.

at the helm of + [organization]

With Tuan at the helm, the publishing house expanded into seventeen new markets.

with [person] at the helm, [result]

同義詞
  • in charge

    more direct and general; less metaphorical than at the helm

  • at the wheel

    same driving/navigation metaphor, slightly more informal

  • running the show

    informal; suggests hands-on control rather than strategic leadership

  • in command

    more military or hierarchical tone

反義詞

文法句型

be at the helm of [organization]

stay at the helm

remain at the helm

用法筆記

Common in business and political journalism. The verb paired with the idiom is usually be, stay, remain, keep, or take over. Always use of, not in, to link the phrase to the organization (at the helm of the department, NOT at the helm in the department).

常見錯誤

❌She is at the helm in the marketing team.
✅She is at the helm of the marketing team.
💡Use the preposition of, not in, to specify the organization.
❌He used his new position at the helm to change the rules.' (vague)
✅The new dean has been at the helm of the law school for only six months.
💡The idiom needs the organization named or clearly understood from context.