stock in trade
Usual bag of tricks
Stock in trade is the merchandise a business keeps on hand for sale, or more broadly, the equipment and materials needed to conduct a trade.
Figuratively, it refers to someone's characteristic skills, techniques, or resources—the tools they regularly rely on: Self-deprecating humor is her stock in trade.
Also written stock-in-trade.
One's professional abilities
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- know-howPractical ability to accomplish
- masteryComplete skill or control
- competenceAdequate ability to function
acumen · prowess · aptitude · capability · savvy · craftsmanship · adeptness · experience
Things for sale
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
- suppliesResources for a task
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
- productsItems made for sale
commodities · wares · assortment · catalog · range · offerings · inventory · staples
Basic dietary necessity
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- essentialFundamentally necessary
anchor · linchpin · bedrock · standby · workhorse · go-to · bread and butter · reliable
Distinguishing characteristic or mark
- trademarkRegistered commercial identifier
- calling cardIdentifying mark or token
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- distinguishing markIdentifying characteristic
defining feature · badge · stamp · emblem · brand · identifier · earmark · telltale
skillset
One's professional abilities
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- know-howPractical ability to accomplish
- masteryComplete skill or control
competence · acumen · prowess · aptitude · capability · savvy · craftsmanship · adeptness · experience · talent
goods
Things for sale
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
- suppliesResources for a task
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
products · commodities · wares · assortment · catalog · range · offerings · inventory · staples · line
staple
Basic dietary necessity
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- foundationUnderlying support structure
essential · anchor · linchpin · bedrock · standby · workhorse · go-to · bread and butter · reliable · standard
hallmark
Distinguishing characteristic or mark
- trademarkRegistered commercial identifier
- calling cardIdentifying mark or token
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
defining feature · distinguishing mark · badge · stamp · emblem · brand · identifier · earmark · telltale · fingerprint
stock in tradeinnovation
Creating something original
departure · novelty · experimentation · uncharted territory · new ground
stock in tradeout of character
Contrary to typical behavior
uncharacteristic · anomaly · aberration · exception · rarity
stock, trade, stocks, stocked, stocking, stocky, stockist, restock, overstocked