trade (redirected from trading on)

*tricks of the trade

special skills and knowledge associated with any trade or profession. (*Typically: know ~; learn ~; show someone ~; teach someone ~.) I know a few tricks of the trade that make things easier. I learned the tricks of the trade from my uncle.

See also: trick

jack of all trades someone

who can do several different jobs instead of specializing in one. John can do plumbing, carpentry, and roofing—a real jack of all trades. He isn't very good at any of them. Take your car to a certified engine mechanic, not a jack of all trades.

See also: jack

jack of all trades is a master of none

Prov. If you are able to do a lot of things fairly well, you will not have time to learn to do one thing extremely well. Jill: I envy Bob; he can do so many things. He writes novels, paints pictures, makes sculptures, and even plays the dulcimer. Jane: It's true he does a lot of things, but he probably doesn't do them all terribly well. A jack of all trades is a master of none, you know.

See also: jack, master, none

stock in trade

whatever goods, skills, etc., are necessary to undertake an activity of some kind. Of course I am glad to help. Packing household goods is my stock in trade.

See also: stock

take something out in trade

Fig. to accept someone's goods or services in payment of a bill. The grocer told the plumber that he would pay the plumber by allowing him to take his bill out in trade. I don't have any cash right now. Can you take what I owe you out in trade?

See also: out, take

There are tricks in every trade.

Prov. In every occupation, there are established ways of doing things. (See also the tricks of the trade.) John thought that he wouldn't have to learn much in order to wait tables. But there are tricks in every trade, and the experienced waiters were able to teach him a lot.

See also: every, trick

trade someone or something for someone or something

to exchange someone or something for someone or something. I will trade you our shortstop for your catcher and two additional promising ball players. I will tradeyou my office desk for a conference table.

trade something in (for something) and trade something in (on something)

to return something, such as a car, to a place where cars are sold as partial payment on a new car. I traded my old car in on a new one. I traded in my old jalopy for a newer car.

trade something off 

1. Lit. to get rid of something in an exchange. I traded my car off. I traded off my old car for a new one.

2. Fig. to sacrifice something in an exchange. You may end up trading job security off for more money. Don't trade off your job security.

trade something with someone

to exchange something with someone. Would you trade seats with me? I want to sit there. Can I trade books with you? This one is dull.

trade at

some place to buy and sell at some place; to shop at someplace. Do you trade at that store anymore? We don't trade there because their prices are too high.

trade insults (with someone)

to take turns with someone in mutual insulting. We traded insults with each other for a while and then settled down to some serious discussions of our differences.

See also: insult

trade on something

to use a fact or a situation to one's advantage. Tom was able to trade on the fact that he had once been in the army. John traded on his poor eyesight to get a seat closer to the stage.

trade secret 

1. Lit. a secret way of making or selling a product; a business secret. The exact formula of the soft drink is a trade secret.

2. Fig. any secret method. (Jocular.) A: How do you manage to sell so many of these each month? B: It's a trade secret.

See also: secret

trade up (to something)

to exchange a lower-level product for a specific higher-level product. I would like to trade up to a more luxurious model. I would like to trade up.

See also: up

trade up from something

to exchange a specific lower-level product for a higher-level product. I decided to trade up from my little car to a much larger one. I can't afford what I have, let alone be able to trade up to anything.

See also: up

trade with someone or something

to do business with someone or something. I don't like the owner of that shop. I won't trade with him anymore. Thank you for trading with us all these years. We don't trade with that company because their prices are too high.

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a jack of all trades

someone who has many skills or who does many different jobs Bill can do plumbing, carpentry, or a bit of gardening - he's a jack of all trades, really.

See also: jack

do a roaring trade  (British & Australian) also do a roaring business (American)

to sell a lot of goods quickly (usually in continuous tenses) It was a hot day and the ice-cream sellers were doing a roaring trade. (often + in ) The toy department was doing a roaring trade in furry dinosaurs.

See also: roaring

ply your trade  (literary)

to do your usual work or business Fishermen in small boats ply their trade up and down the coast.

See also: ply

rough trade  (very informal)

men who have sex with other men for money and who look as if they come from a low social class He went to the docks to pick up a bit of rough trade.

See also: rough

the tools of the/your trade

the things that you need to use in order to do a job For the modern sales executive, a car phone is one of the tools of the trade.

See down tools

See also: tool

tricks of the trade

clever methods that help you to do a job better or faster As a journalist, you learn the tricks of the trade pretty quickly or you don't survive.

See also: trick

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change places also trade places

to exchange positions with someone He may be rich and famous, but I wouldn't change places with him, not even for a million dollars. The twins looked so alike, they would sometimes trade places and confuse their teachers.

See also: change, place

ply your trade (slightly formal)

to do your usual work Fishermen in small boats ply their trade up and down the coast.

See also: ply

tools of the trade also the tools of somebody's trade

the things that are needed in order to do a job Eileen's dress-making shop had buttons and thread and needles and scissors, all the tools of the trade.

See also: tool

trade down

to exchange something expensive for something that costs less The family traded down to a smaller house, cutting their mortgage payments in half.

trade in something also trade something in

to return something as part of a payment for something similar I traded in my wonderful little sports car for a much more practical van. The store wouldn't give me a refund on the camera, but they offered to let me trade it in.

Usage notes: usually said about a device, a piece of equipment, or a vehicle

trade on something also trade upon something

to use something for your own advantage The mayoral candidate ran the kind of campaign that trades on most people's fear of crime. George traded upon his family's powerful connections.

trade up

to replace something with something better or more valuable When Phil needed a new car, he decided to trade up and bought a luxury car.

See also: up

tricks of the trade

methods that help you to do a job better or faster As a journalist, you learn the tricks of the trade pretty quickly or you don't get your stories.

See also: trick