cunning, trickery

the goods, tools and other requisites of a profession

A quick wit and a warm smile were the salesman's stock in trade.

to take the conceit out of a braggart (ships colors used to be raised or lowered by pegs--the higher the colors, the greater the honor)

The alumni thought they had a great basketball team, but our varsity took them down a peg.

to evade responsibility (the "buck" may have been a piece of buckshot passed from one poker player to another to keep track of whose turn it was to deal)

He always gives me a straight answer and never tries to pass the buck.

to make a big fuss over someone (the lions at the Tower of London were considered its main attraction)

When the famous poet Dylan Thomas visited the United States, he was lionized wherever he lectured.