常じょう套とう手しゅ段だん

noun

one's usual trick; habitual practice; old trick

Refers to a method or trick that someone habitually uses, often with a negative or cunning connotation. Commonly used in set phrases like 常套手段に過ぎない (it's just an old trick).

• 彼かれの常じょう套とう手しゅ段だんは、まず相あい手てを褒ほめてから本ほん題だいに入はいることだ。

  His usual trick is to first compliment the other person and then get to the main point.

• それは詐さ欺ぎ師しの常じょう套とう手しゅ段だんに過すぎない。

  That's nothing more than an old trick of con artists.