diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/corelib.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/corelib.js
index b30350a9502..93796ab4282 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/corelib.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/corelib.js
@@ -709,6 +709,12 @@ instance.web.Widget = instance.web.Class.extend(instance.web.WidgetMixin, {
             this.$element = elem;
         }
     },
+    /**
+     * Shortcut for $element.find() like backbone
+     */
+    "$": function() {
+        return this.$element.find.apply(this.$element,arguments);
+    },
     /**
      * Informs the action manager to do an action. This supposes that
      * the action manager can be found amongst the ancestors of the current widget.