wheelhouse
wheelhouse Lexical Profile
wheelhouse Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An area of expertise, personal strength, or preferred interest that matches a person's skills and experience.
"Negotiating complex international contracts is right in her wheelhouse."
An enclosed compartment or cabin on the deck of a ship or boat that houses the steering wheel and navigation instruments.
"The captain stood inside the wheelhouse, peering through the rain-streaked windows as the vessel approached the harbor."
North American In baseball, the specific section of the strike zone where a batter can hit the ball with the greatest power.
"The pitcher accidentally threw a fastball right into the slugger's wheelhouse, resulting in a home run."
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-19th century as a nautical compound of 'wheel' and 'house'. Its popular figurative meaning of an area of expertise developed in the late 20th century from American baseball slang, referring to the optimal zone where a batter can swing with maximum power.