Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • idiom (in (one's) wheelhouse) In the area of one's greatest striking power.
  • idiom (in (one's) wheelhouse) In line with one's interests or abilities.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Nautical, same as pilot-house.
  • noun In mech., a building in which a water-wheel is housed.
  • noun A structure to contain and safeguard the wheels of the valves of a. water-works system.
  • noun The curved inclosure for the paddle-or side-wheels of a steamboat.
  • noun The free space under the forward part of the body in some carriages, which enables the front axle to make a more extensive arc in turning, and permits the wheels to ‘cut under.’

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A small house on or above a vessel's deck, containing the steering wheel.
  • noun A paddle box. See under paddle.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical An enclosed compartment, on the deck of a vessel such as a fishing boat, from which it may be navigated; on a larger vessel it is the bridge or pilothouse
  • noun nautical The enclosed structure around side paddlewheels on a steamboat.
  • noun baseball A batter's power zone

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an enclosed compartment from which a vessel can be navigated

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

wheel +‎ house

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Examples

  • Calling media narratives into question is something that sits squarely inside "The Daily Show" 's wheelhouse, which is probably why Jon Stewart and company are far more trusted by the public than the rest of the media.

    Will 'Rally To Restore Sanity' Reveal America's 'Silent Majority'? The Huffington Post News Team 2010

  • Calling media narratives into question is something that sits squarely inside "The Daily Show"'s wheelhouse, which is probably why Jon Stewart and company are far more trusted by the public than the rest of the media.

    Will 'Rally To Restore Sanity' Reveal America's 'Silent Majority'? The Huffington Post News Team 2010

  • The best news for the GOP this summer, Mr. Wehner says, is that "the issue set that is dominating the national debate is in the Republican wheelhouse, which is taxes and spending."

    Democrats' Woes Won't Cure GOP 2009

  • Beyond the wheelhouse was a spacious area with lounge chairs and a portable bar.

    Fatal Care Goldberg, Leonard 2001

  • Many of you who have followed my esteemed career know that my wheelhouse is a diverse one, inclusive of my five principal "Ms": mustaches, monkeys, mullets, Mr. T, and midgets.

    BallHype - Top Sports News, Videos, and Blogs 2010

  • - Hoops Addict JoeSportsFan. com - Many of you who have followed my esteemed career know that my wheelhouse is a diverse one, inclusive of my five principal "Ms": mustaches, monkeys, mullets, Mr. T, and midgets.

    BallHype - Top Sports News, Videos, and Blogs 2010

  • - Hoops Addict JoeSportsFan. com - Many of you who have followed my esteemed career know that my wheelhouse is a diverse one, inclusive of my five principal "Ms": mustaches, monkeys, mullets, Mr. T, and midgets.

    BallHype - Top Sports News, Videos, and Blogs 2010

  • But I think there's a real substantive reform that McCain could offer that its completely in his wheelhouse, that is necessary, and that would prove he's a break from Bush.

    The Corner 2008

  • But I think there's a real substantive reform that McCain could offer that its completely in his wheelhouse, that is necessary, and that would prove he's a break from Bush.

    The Corner 2008

  • It is a small gypsy style cart so it can't imagine it will be used for the 'wheelhouse'.

    Archive 2009-11-01 2009

Comments

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  • “McCain had blogged about body issues during the campaign — “I’ve been surprised by critical comments regarding my weight and body shape. It recently reached a ridiculous level when someone handed me a business card for a plastic surgeon and suggested I needed liposuction�? — so Ingraham’s jokes were, as the baseballers say, right in her wheelhouse.�?

    The New York Times, Mean G.O.P. Girls, by Eric Etheridge, Marche 17, 2009

    March 18, 2009

  • Wow. Isn't the phrase extreme conservatism, as used by Meghan McCain, something of an oxymoron? Along the lines of extreme moderation?

    P.S. I hope they keep fighting like this. It's awfully entertaining.

    March 18, 2009