training wheels

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a pair of small wheels attached one on each side of the rear wheel of a bicycle for stability while one is learning to ride.

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Example Sentences

"You can think of the fetal globin gene as the training wheels on a kid's bike," says Prof. Crossley.

From Science Daily

Then, in September 2025, the training wheels came off.

From MarketWatch

And as the company ramps up, Musk said Tesla could shorten the time it keeps safety drivers in the car to “maybe three months” before taking off the training wheels.

From MarketWatch

For people who love that kind of filmmaking, “Sneakers” is an unlikely ür-text: a conspiracy thriller with training wheels.

From Los Angeles Times

They may be horror movies with training wheels, but they’re also teaching PG-13 audiences to maintain a healthy skepticism about the future.

From Los Angeles Times