at the wheel

IPA/at ðə wˈiːl/
IPA/æt ðə wˈiːl/

at the wheel — 慣用語

1. used to describe a person who is driving a vehicle, sitting in the driver's seat

1.慣用語B2
釋義

駕駛中

正在駕駛車輛的狀態

used to describe a person who is driving a vehicle, sitting in the driver's seat and controlling the direction and speed of the car, truck, or other road vehicle.

例句

My father was at the wheel when a deer suddenly ran across the highway.

我父親正在開車時，突然有隻鹿衝上高速公路。

idiom: be at the wheel = driving a vehicle

Ravindra fell asleep at the wheel after driving for twelve hours without a break.

Ravindra 連續開了十二個小時沒休息，結果開車開到睡著。

collocation: fall asleep at the wheel

同義詞
  • behind the wheel

    identical in meaning; 'at the wheel' is slightly more idiomatic for driving contexts

文法句型

be at the wheel

stay at the wheel

fall asleep at the wheel

用法筆記

Often used in the warning phrase 'fall asleep at the wheel', which describes a dangerous situation where a driver falls asleep while the vehicle is moving. The phrase can also be used figuratively to mean 'being in control of a situation' (e.g., "She is at the wheel of the new marketing campaign").

常見錯誤

❌He was at the wheel car.
✅He was at the wheel of the car.
💡when specifying the vehicle, use the preposition 'of' after 'at the wheel'.