behind the wheel

idiomatic phrase

: in the act of driving

I was nervous my first time behind the wheel.

He urged drivers to stop and rest if they feel tired behind the wheel.—

Yaron Steinbuch

… will start enforcing a requirement for commercial truck drivers travelling between provinces to track their hours behind the wheel …—

Karina Zapata

Examples of behind the wheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Audio volume and the car's climate can be adjusted without looking even with just a little time behind the wheel to get used to button placement. —

Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 While Holmes won’t be behind the wheel, Hettinger Racing isn’t settling for second-rate talent. —

Greg Engle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Chris began his racing career behind the wheel, winning in Midgets and Late Models before becoming a fulltime team owner. —

Greg Engle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Jackie Wilson, then 21, was behind the wheel of a car with his brother Andrew Wilson, who shot and killed the two officers. —

Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for behind the wheel

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of behind the wheel was in 1906

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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