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

Starting with episode 1, Gross is behind the wheel of his adapted Porsche, taking on the legendary track at Watkins Glen. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Kennedy was found in the strip mall’s parking lot behind the wheel of a red Dodge Charger near a Carl’s Jr. near the intersection of Watt Avenue and Antelope Road. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2025

Cut to a grim-faced George Washington behind the wheel of the lead Challenger, which has a big American flag sticking out of the window. —Alex Carp, New Yorker, 28 July 2025

Part of Senna’s decompression time was likely spent behind the wheel of chassis No. —Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 28 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for behind the wheel

• automobile
• periosteal
• peritoneal
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal