At the helm

Meaning

The idiom "at the helm" means to be in charge or in control of something, often referring to a leader, captain, or person who is making decisions.

Usage

• As the captain of the ship, she was firmly at the helm during rough seas.
• He was at the helm of his company's success, with revenue steadily increasing year by year.
• The CEO was at the helm of the merger talks, negotiating with the other company's executives.
• At the helm of her team, the coach motivated her players to give their best performance.
• As a project manager, he was at the helm of the project's timeline and budget.

Roots and History

The idiom "at the helm" has its roots in nautical language, where the helm is the steering wheel of a ship. In ancient times, ships were navigated by someone standing at the bow of the ship, holding on to the tiller or rudder of the boat. Over time, the term "helmsman" evolved to refer to anyone in charge or making decisions, such as a captain or leader of an organization.

Synonyms in English

• In charge
• In control
• Leading
• Deciding
• Directing

Synonyms in other languages

• French: Chef (leader)
• Spanish: Director (director)
• German: Kapitän (captain)
• Italian: Capitan (captain)
• Japanese: 司令 (commander, leader)

Similar Idioms

• a dime a dozen

• apples to oranges

• the brains behind