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

Example Sentences

The Knights’ second-year coach added that Truong has learned the ins and outs of football by going beyond practice to improve.

From Los Angeles Times

She's following all the polling and the punditry and knows the ins and outs of the battleground map better than most adults I talk to.

From Salon

Burn Lin knows the ins and outs of the tiny chips that power your phones, cars and gaming consoles, and he knows there aren’t enough workers to keep up with skyrocketing demand.

From Los Angeles Times

We may never know the full ins and outs.

From Slate

Things have been relatively quiet at Nottingham Forest compared to what usually happens with the ins and outs there each summer, and hopefully there will be less drama when the season starts too.

From BBC