Crutch

Often she was very sad and lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her crutch, addressed the Queen in friendly, flattering tones.

She had no idea that the kind-looking old woman leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied the Queen her good fortune, and was determined to ruin her.

You're using that dictionary as a crutch. You don't really need it.

This is a crutch.

Mennad was Baya's crutch.

Mennad was using Baya as a crutch. She supported him through everything.

Some language purists see emojis as a crutch.

Writing in romaji isn't good for Japanese learners to always do, because they use it as a crutch instead of learning to use kana and kanji.

Matthew almost dropped his crutch.

He had a splinted leg and an unaccustomed crutch, and found the steps a difficulty; but Vera put a hand under his elbow and let him lean heavily on her shoulder, and he reached the dream-garden without, I hope, too many twinges.