Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
alt. 1 merchandise and other necessary supplies kept on hand in order to do business. 2 A technique, skill or ability habitually used by a person, group of persons, or an organization, often in the course of their business. n. 1 merchandise and other necessary supplies kept on hand in order to do business. 2 A technique, skill or ability habitually used by a person, group of persons, or an organization, often in the course of their business.
WordNet
n. any equipment constantly used as part of a profession or occupation; "friendliness is the salesman's stock in trade"
Usage examples of "stock-in-trade".
Sir Henry Ancred is perhaps the worst of the lot, but, because he is an actor, his friends accept his behaviour as part of his stock-in-trade, and apart from an occasional feeling of shyness in his presence, seldom make the mistake of worrying about him.
February, 1793, when Agnes, with eyes swollen with tears, a market basket on her arm, and a look of dreary despair on her young face, turned that selfsame angle on her way to the Pont Neuf, and nearly fell over the rickety construction which sheltered him and his stock-in-trade.
The leaves and stem are slightly acid and astringent, with a somewhat bitter taste, and frequently the former are mixed by sellers of water-cresses with their stock-in-trade.
He abounded in those idealist sonorosities that are the stock-in-trade of all solemn old-fashioned frauds.
Moonshine, coonskins, and hog meat were this farm's stock-in-trade, and with them the family managed to get along.
Having regard to the period, and to the alchemistic nature of the goods that composed so much of Anne's stock-in-trade at the sign of the Golden Distaff, in Paternoster Row, it may be conjectured that the love-lorn Frances had thoughts of a philtre.
He was well acquainted with this type of entertainment-it was stock-in-trade for his dusty novels.
And Morghi had no love for mysteries, unless they were part of his own stock-in-trade.
Traitors' stock-in-trade is untrustworthiness, so their inclination is to trust as few people as possible.