# trick of the trade

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/trick-of-the-trade
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A shortcut or other quick, or very effective way of doing things, that professional workers learn from experience.

## Examples

- She taught me a clever trick of the trade for cooking.
- The veteran carpenter showed the apprentice a useful trick of the trade to cut the wood faster.
- By observing the master chef for years, he slowly mastered every subtle trick of the trade required to run a professional kitchen.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.