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

Idiom: asleep at the wheel

Meaning

Example sentences

Synonyms

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