In this mini episode, you will learn an interesting way to use the word “wheel.”
Episode 330 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you an interesting way to use the word “wheel.” Send your questions about English and your comments and suggestions to EverybodyESL@gmail.com! (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hello! This is Marcin from Poland. And you’re listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 330 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In this episode, I am going to teach you a word that is very common and very useful. I should say, “I’m going to teach you a special meaning of a common word.” The word is wheel. Wheel. W-h-e-e-l. Wheel.
The meaning that I have in mind today does have something to do with cars and other vehicles that travel along the road or travel along a street or that roll on the ground.
But this is a different meaning from the usual meaning. Usually, when we are talking about cars or trucks, when we use the word wheel, we are talking about the part that rolls on the ground or that rolls on the street. So we would say that a car has four wheels. This is a different meaning of the word wheel.
Have you ever heard anyone use the word wheel with a different meaning when they are talking about cars or trucks? Wheel can mean the steering wheel—the round part that you hold and turn to turn or steer the car or the truck. We often call the steering wheel just “the wheel.” The wheel. And it is always “the (or the [thee]) wheel,” never just “wheel.”
So, if you hear a native English speaker refer to “the wheel,” they are probably talking about a car’s or truck’s steering wheel. And that’s why when we refer to the person who is driving a car or truck, we can call that person the driver, or we can say, “the person who is behind the wheel.”
If you are behind the wheel, that means you are sitting in the part of the car or truck where you can hold the steering wheel and turn the vehicle. The person who is driving is behind the wheel. This is a very common phrase. You will often hear people refer to the person who is driving as “the person who is behind the wheel.”
And you will also hear this person described as being “at the wheel.” At the wheel, behind the wheel: they both mean the person who is holding and turning the steering wheel. Because the steering wheel can be referred to as “the wheel.”
We also use “the wheel” in this phrase: “to get (or to be) behind the wheel.” To get behind the wheel or to be behind the wheel. If you get behind the wheel, that means you sit in your car and drive. And if someone is behind the wheel, that means that person is driving.
Here is an example of a sentence that uses this kind of phrase: “You should never get behind the wheel if you have been drinking alcohol.”
In other words, you should not start to drive if you have been drinking alcohol. You should not drive a car. If you have been drinking alcohol, you should not get behind the wheel. I guess we could also say you should not be behind the wheel.
This is “the wheel,” a very common and useful phrase that I think you should know.
Outro
This is the end of episode 330 of Everybody ESL. Remember: if you have questions about English, or if you have comments for me, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Marcin recorded the introduction that you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with a new episode. And until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye!