taken the wheel
Driving the vehicle
Taken the wheel means assumed control, from the literal act of steering a vehicle.
Someone who has taken the wheel is now directing the course of events: After the CEO resigned, the CFO took the wheel.
The phrase implies active guidance rather than passive participation—you don't just occupy the driver's seat, you're steering.
- guidingLeading toward destination
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- cruise controlAutomatic velocity maintenance system
- backseat driverPassenger offering unsolicited advice
piloting · orchestrating · steering committee · accountability · navigating · road ahead · governing · ownership · initiative · authority · helm · directing · commanding · managing · supervising · captain · hands on deck · commitment
taken the wheelgone along for the ride
Accompanied without influencing direction
ridden shotgun · let go · taken a back seat · stepped back · deferred
take, taken, takes, taking, taker, takers, retake, retaken, retakes