wheelhouse

/ˈwiːlhaʊs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwiːlhaʊs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈ(h)wēl-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce wheelhouse (audio)/ (ame, mw)

wheelhouse — noun

  • wheelhousesingular
  • wheelhousesplural

1. the kind of subject, task, or activity that fits a person's strengths and that t

1.名詞B2
釋義

the kind of subject, task, or activity that fits a person's strengths and that they know especially well.

例句

Budget planning is Diya's wheelhouse, so the team asked Diya first.

pattern: [topic] is someone's wheelhouse

Ask Minh about getting around Seoul; buses and trains are in Minh's wheelhouse.

同義詞
  • specialty

    more neutral and often used for a professional field or service

  • expertise

    more formal and emphasizes deep knowledge or skill

  • strength

    broader; can describe a personal advantage, not only a subject area

反義詞
  • weak spot

    an area where someone lacks skill or confidence

用法筆記

This meaning is usually used in phrases such as 'in someone's wheelhouse' or 'outside someone's wheelhouse'. It emphasizes fit with a person's knowledge and strengths, not just whether they enjoy the topic.

常見錯誤

❌Public speaking is outside my wheelhouse, so I am shy.
✅Public speaking is outside my comfort zone, so I am shy.
💡'outside your wheelhouse' means outside your expertise, not simply uncomfortable.

2. the enclosed part of a ship where the person steering stays protected while cont

2.名詞C1
釋義

the enclosed part of a ship where the person steering stays protected while controlling its direction.

例句

Ada stepped into the wheelhouse to check the radar before dawn.

location: into the wheelhouse

Rain hammered the wheelhouse windows while the captain guided the ferry.

同義詞
  • pilothouse

    a close synonym, especially in nautical language

  • bridge

    broader; on a large ship, the bridge includes the command area around the controls

用法筆記

This sense belongs to ships and larger boats. It refers to the sheltered room around the steering controls, not to the open deck area.

常見錯誤

❌The driver stayed in the wheelhouse during the storm.
✅The captain stayed in the wheelhouse during the storm.
💡a wheelhouse is part of a boat or ship, not a car or bus.

3. in baseball, the spot where a pitch arrives when it suits the hitter and lets th

3.名詞C1
釋義

in baseball, the spot where a pitch arrives when it suits the hitter and lets them drive the ball hard.

例句

The fastball stayed in Eitan's wheelhouse, and the ball cleared the wall.

baseball: pitch in a batter's wheelhouse

Pitching low and inside kept the ball out of the rookie batter's wheelhouse.

用法筆記

This is a baseball-specific literal sense. It names the area where a batter is most comfortable hitting the ball, and it is the image behind the figurative sense about personal strengths.

常見錯誤

❌The pitch was in the batter's wheelhouse, so he had trouble reaching it.
✅The pitch was in the batter's wheelhouse, so he could attack it hard.
💡a pitch in someone's wheelhouse suits the hitter rather than making the swing harder.