idiom (adj/v phrase) · neutral
be in the driver's seat
UK/biː ɪn ðə ˈdraɪvə(r)z siːt/US/bi ɪn ðə ˈdraɪvərz sit/be·IN·the·DRI·VER'S·SEAT
to be in control of a situation or have the power to make decisions
Examples
“With the new promotion, she is finally in the driver's seat when it comes to project decisions.”
“When investors pulled out, the original founders were no longer in the driver's seat.”
“Students feel more in the driver's seat when they choose their own research topics.”
Band 8 sentence
“After the restructuring, the newly appointed director was clearly in the driver's seat for all strategic decisions.”
Collocations
- be in the driver's seat when/over
- put someone in the driver's seat
Word family
Common mistakes
be in drivers seat→be in the driver's seat
in the driver seat→in the driver's seat
Say it for a higher band
5be in control→6call the shots→7+be in the driver's seat
Synonyms
be in control
call the shots
Easily confused
call the shots
“As CEO she calls the shots on company policy.”
Related words
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In Success
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