stock-in-trade
stock-in-trade — 名詞
1. the habits, phrases, or tactics that a particular person or group repeatedly fal
慣用招式
某人反覆使用的典型行為或言談
the habits, phrases, or tactics that a particular person or group repeatedly falls back on — so much so that they become a predictable trademark of how that person operates
Ari's stock-in-trade as a manager was long speeches packed with grand, empty promises.
Ari 當主管的慣用招式就是發表長篇大論，內容全是華而不實的空洞承諾。
possessive + stock-in-trade: describes a person's signature habit
Tendai built her stock-in-trade on sharp one-liners that left every room laughing.
Tendai 以犀利的妙語建立她的慣用招式，讓每個場合都充滿笑聲。
The restaurant critic's stock-in-trade was sniffing at dishes before taking a single bite.
那位餐廳評論家的慣用招式是對每道菜嗅半天才肯動一口。
Roya's stock-in-trade was arriving late and blaming the traffic with dramatic sighs.
Roya 的慣用招式就是遲到，然後用誇張的嘆氣怪罪交通。
For that politician, empty slogans were stock-in-trade — nobody expected real plans anymore.
對那位政客來說，空洞的口號已是慣用招式——沒有人再指望任何實質計畫。
- hallmark
hallmark emphasises a distinguishing mark of quality or excellence, not a repeated behaviour
- trademark
trademark is very close; it stresses what makes someone recognisable, while stock-in-trade stresses repeated reliance
- signature
signature (as in 'signature move') highlights a uniquely identifying style rather than a recurrent habit
用法筆記
Often carries a mildly critical tone — implies the person leans on the same behaviour so often it becomes predictable, even tiresome.
常見錯誤
2. all the tools, equipment, and supplies a person needs to carry out their particu
生財工具
從事某項職業所需的器具與物品
all the tools, equipment, and supplies a person needs to carry out their particular kind of work — for example, a chef's knives and pans, or a carpenter's saw and chisels
Yael packed her stock-in-trade — brushes, rollers, and three tins of paint — before dawn.
Yael 在天亮前就把她的生財工具——刷子、滾筒和三罐油漆——打包好。
list pattern: stock-in-trade — [items] — ...
A carpenter's stock-in-trade includes saws, chisels, and a well-worn measuring tape.
木匠的生財工具包括鋸子、鑿子和一把用得舊舊的捲尺。
Gita laid out her stock-in-trade on the desk: a stethoscope, prescription pad, and small torch.
Gita 把她的生財工具在桌上排開：聽診器、處方箋和一支小手電筒。
Matthew's stock-in-trade as a photographer filled two heavy bags with lenses and lights.
Matthew 當攝影師的生財工具裝滿了兩大袋的鏡頭和燈具。
The chef checked his stock-in-trade — sharp knives, a steel, and his heaviest frying pan.
主廚檢查了他的生財工具——鋒利的菜刀、磨刀棒和他最重的平底鍋。
- tools of the trade
a more transparent, everyday phrase with the same literal meaning
- kit
kit is broader and more informal; it can mean any set of equipment, not specifically professional tools
- gear
gear is more informal and often used for sports or outdoor equipment rather than professional tools
用法筆記
The original, literal meaning — now less common than the figurative sense (sense 1). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names physical objects used in a job; sense 1 names behavioural habits.