ins and outs

plural noun

1. physical characteristics, as windings and turnings, nooks, or recesses.

   the ins and outs of a subterranean passage.

2. intricacies; particulars; peculiarities.

   the ins and outs of the tax laws.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ins and outs¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

The intricate details of a situation or process. For example, It takes a newcomer some time to learn the ins and outs of the legislative process , or David really knows the ins and outs of how this engine works . This usage alludes to the tortuous windings and turnings of a road or path. [Second half of 1600s]

Those with position and influence and those without, especially those in office versus those who are not, as in “Juan stood well both with Ins and Outs” (Byron, Don Juan , 1823). [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

And then the last special was just about the ins and outs of my first year of marriage and this big honeymoon that I had, this big over the top wedding.

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‘The Big Move’ is a MarketWatch column looking at the ins and outs of real estate, from navigating the search for a new home to applying for a mortgage.

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Here are some of the ins and outs of Southwest’s new boarding system.

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Newbies might not know the ins and outs of a dividend, but they are drawn in by a gift, he added.

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Unless you know the ins and outs of someone’s job, it might be hard to gauge from their stories whether they are a diligent worker.

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