in the driver's seat

Idioms and Phrases

Also, in the saddle . In control, in a position of authority. For example, With the boss on vacation, Mr. Burns was in the driver's seat and enjoying it , or She waited until after the election, knowing that she'd be in the saddle then . The first expression dates from the 1800s, the second from the early 1600s. Also see at the helm .

Example Sentences

He said: "Reform has won the trust of the next generation. We are the future, we want our country back on track, rescuing it from the unpatriotic minority and put the patriotic majority back in the driver's seat."

From BBC

Headlines tell us Trump is in the driver’s seat for the election.

From Salon

He was shot in the forehead at 22:07 BST as he sat in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

From BBC

Tesla’s self-driving feature cannot be used without someone in the driver’s seat and has been linked to several accidents, including fatal crashes.

From Los Angeles Times

The 24-year-old was in the driver's seat of an Audi car when he was shot in the head in Streatham, south London, in September 2022.

From BBC