ins and outs

American  

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.

---

ins and outs Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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]

---

Etymology

Origin of ins and outs

First recorded in 1880–85

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.

From Los Angeles Times

‘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.

From MarketWatch

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From MarketWatch