| 词汇 | asleep at the wheel |
| 释义 | Idiom asleep at the wheel not paying attention.Why was our government asleep at the wheel when the crisis began? Etymology: based on the literal meaning of asleep at the wheel (= sleeping while driving a vehicle) asleep at the wheelFailing to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; not doing or paying attention to that which is important or for which one is responsible. Johnson was supposed to make sure the paperwork went through before the deadline, but it looks like he was asleep at the wheel. We would have won if our goalie hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel! asleep at the wheelnot attentive or alert; inactive. informalThe image here is of falling asleep while driving a car. A North American variant is asleep at the switch , which refers to the points lever or switch on a railway. 2003 Guardian Rowling has not been asleep at the wheel in the three years since the last Potter novel, and I am pleased to report that she has not confused sheer length with inspiration. asleep at the ˈwheel(especially British English) (American English usually asleep at the ˈswitch) (informal) not paying attention to possible problems: The agency has been asleep at the wheel and has failed to enforce regulations.This refers to someone falling asleep while driving a car or while operating a control on a train track. |
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