Idiom: asleep at the wheel
Meaning
Idiom: asleep at the wheel
- not paying attention to problems or something that's important
- failing to fulfill one's duties
Note: This idiom alludes to the danger and problems that can happen if a driver of a car, bus or other vehicle falls asleep (at the steering wheel) while driving.
Example sentences
— We're out of photocopier toner and paper and I need to print a report. Whoever's ordering office supplies is asleep at the wheel.
— I fired my secretary because she fell asleep at the wheel and forgot to purchase my ticket to Friday's conference so I had to buy one at the last minute for $3,500.
— My 85-year-old mother's doctor has been asleep at the wheel monitoring her medications so now I have to go to every appointment with her.
— Be careful not to fall asleep at the wheel with your taxes or you could have serious problems down the road.
— The environmental safety department was asleep at the wheel and failed to enforce the clean water standards the government set.
— I was asleep at the wheel and forgot to renew my insurance.
— There will be an investigation into why maintenance were asleep at the wheel and didn't ensure fire extinguishers were serviced annually.
Synonyms
- asleep on the job
- out of it
- out to lunch
- like an absent-minded professor
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