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Meaning of take the helm | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C1

Definitions

  1. To assume responsibility for steering a ship.
  2. To take over responsibility (of something) from someone else.

Examples

The nation was also at peace. The Cold War had ended before Bill Clinton took the helm, and his presidency had experienced nothing that could be called a major international crisis. Turmoil in the Balkans and Middle East was nothing new. Iraq required attention but no massive deployment of Americans. There had been devastating, but fortunately isolated, terrorist attacks in Africa and in Oklahoma City. But the North Koreans had not invaded South Korea, nor had they lobbed one of their missiles in our direction. Communist China did not invade Taiwan. Libya remained quiet.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

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