crutch

/krʌtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /krʌtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrəch/ (ame, mw)

crutch — noun

  • crutchsingular
  • crutchesplural

1. a walking aid used after a leg or foot injury so a person can move with support

1.名詞B1
釋義

a walking aid used after a leg or foot injury so a person can move with support

例句

Jisoo used one crutch to cross the school yard after surgery.

use a crutch after a leg operation

The nurse adjusted Nikhil's crutch so his shoulder would not ache.

adjust a crutch for comfort

同義詞
  • cane

    lighter support, usually for balance rather than a serious leg injury

  • walking stick

    more common for hiking or steady outdoor walking than for medical recovery

  • underarm crutch

    a more specific type that fits below the arm

文法句型

use a crutch

walk with a crutch

lean on a crutch

用法筆記

Use this sense for the walking aid itself. In modern English, crutch almost always means this support, not the rare older spelling crutch for crotch.

常見錯誤

❌He walked with crutch.
✅He walked with a crutch.
💡Use an article with the singular countable noun.
❌She needed two crutchs after the accident.
✅She needed two crutches after the accident.
💡The plural form is crutches, not 'crutchs'.

2. something people lean on for help so often that they stop coping well without it

2.名詞B2
釋義

something people lean on for help so often that they stop coping well without it

例句

Coffee became Nellie's crutch during the month before her final exams.

something becomes someone's emotional support

Ezra used jokes as a crutch whenever meetings became tense.

use something as a crutch

同義詞
  • prop

    often used for temporary emotional or practical support

  • support

    more neutral and does not suggest unhealthy dependence

  • security blanket

    more informal and often used for emotional comfort

反義詞

文法句型

use something as a crutch

be a crutch for someone

become someone's crutch

用法筆記

Usually negative in tone. It suggests that the support prevents growth, confidence, or skill instead of simply helping for a short time.

常見錯誤

❌The map was a crutch for the hikers.
✅The map was a helpful tool for the hikers.
💡Call something a crutch only when it creates unhealthy dependence.
❌My friend was a crutch because she listened to me once.
✅My friend was a crutch because I depended on her for every decision.
💡This sense implies repeated reliance, not one act of help.

crutch — verb