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

The view from behind the wheel is impressive, where the driver sees finger-thin A-pillars at either side of the broad windshield that overlooks two iconic fenders, a comically short dash, five true analog gauges, and little else. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2026

The driver who was behind the wheel of the car that crashed on a Nigerian motorway, injuring British boxer Anthony Joshua and killing two others, has been charged. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026

Engh is one of several people suddenly running an expensive errand to get back behind the wheel after their vehicles were towed during the snow emergency. —Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026

At one point, police pulled him over for speeding — and were understandably confused to find a man half-dressed behind the wheel. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026

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