A customary or stereotyped method; a conventional trick or routine tactic often used habitually (sometimes implying lack of originality).
彼の説得方法はいつも常套手段だ。
His way of persuading people is always a standard trick.
その映画は結論を急ぐために常套手段に頼りすぎている。
That movie relies too much on stock devices to rush to its conclusion.
相手が怒るとわかっていながら常套手段で挑発してきた。
Knowing the other person would get angry, they provoked them with a usual trick.