at the helm - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

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at the helm (of something)

in control. He resigned and left the company last July after two years at the helm.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of helm (= the handle or wheel that controls the direction in which a ship travels)

? References in classic literature
The sea continued to break over the vessel with such violence, that it was impossible to stand at the helm without the assistance of lashings. Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains by Irving, Washington View in context It was very pleasant, when I stayed late in town, to launch myself into the night, especially if it was dark and tempestuous, and set sail from some bright village parlor or lecture room, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, for my snug harbor in the woods, having made all tight without and withdrawn under hatches with a merry crew of thoughts, leaving only my outer man at the helm, or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing. Walden & on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Thoreau, Henry David View in context The sleeper at the helm woke; looked up at the idle sails, and yawned in sympathy with them; looked out at the sea on either side of him, and shook his head obstinately at the superior obstinacy of the calm. Miss or Mrs.? by Collins, Wilkie View in context More results

The sea continued to break over the vessel with such violence, that it was impossible to stand at the helm without the assistance of lashings.

Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains by Irving, Washington View in context

It was very pleasant, when I stayed late in town, to launch myself into the night, especially if it was dark and tempestuous, and set sail from some bright village parlor or lecture room, with a bag of rye or Indian meal upon my shoulder, for my snug harbor in the woods, having made all tight without and withdrawn under hatches with a merry crew of thoughts, leaving only my outer man at the helm, or even tying up the helm when it was plain sailing.

Walden & on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Thoreau, Henry David View in context

The sleeper at the helm woke; looked up at the idle sails, and yawned in sympathy with them; looked out at the sea on either side of him, and shook his head obstinately at the superior obstinacy of the calm.

Miss or Mrs.? by Collins, Wilkie View in context

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