ins and outs Definition

in
prep

1. Used to express the position of someone or something with regard to what encloses, surrounds or includes them or it; within.

Example: Stay in bed
Example: They are in the park
Example: She's in the sixth form
2. Into.

Example: get in the car
Example: I put it in my bag
3. After (a period of time).

Example: Come back in an hour
Example: It will be ready in one minute
4. During; while.

Example: lost in transit
Example: In running for the bus, she tripped
5. Used to express arrangement or shape.

Example: in a square
Example: in alphabetical order
6. From; out of something.

Example: two in every eight
7. By the medium or means of, or using, something.

Example: sung in Italian
Example: written in code
8. Wearing something.

Example: the lady in red
Example: a man in a fur hat
9. Used to describe a state or manner.

Example: in a hurry
Example: in a daze
10. Used to state an occupation.

Example: She's in banking
Example: a job in local government
11. Used to state a purpose.

Example: a party in his honour
Example: built in memory of his wife
12. Said of some animals: pregnant with (young).

Example: in calf

adverb

1. To or towards the inside; indoors.

Example: Do come in
Thesaurus: inward, inside, toward the centre, into, within.
2. At home or work

Example: Is John in?
Thesaurus: here, at home.
3. So as to be added or included.

Example: beat in the eggs
4. So as to enclose or conceal, or be enclosed or concealed.

Example: The fireplace was bricked in
5. In or into political power or office.
6. In or into fashion.
7. In a good position; in favour.

Example: trying to keep in with the boss
8. In certain games: batting.
9. Into a proper, required or efficient state.

Example: run a new car in
10. Said of the tide: at its highest point; as close to the shore as it gets.
11. Expressing prolonged activity, especially by large numbers of people gathered in one room or building, originally as a form of organized protest.

Example: a sit-in
Example: a work-in
Example: a teach-in

adj

1. Inside; internal; inwards. See also inner, inmost.

Example: Never go out of the in door
2. Fashionable.

Example: Orange was the in colour last summer
Example: the in thing to do
Thesaurus: popular, fashionable, trendy, modish.
3. In power or office.

Example: when the Tories were in
4. Used for receiving things coming in.

Example: an in-tray
5. Shared by a group of people.

Example: an in-joke

Idiom: be in for it or something

colloq
To be likely to experience some trouble or difficulty.
Example: We'll be in for it when we get home
Example: He's in for a rough ride

Idiom: have it in for someone

colloq
To make trouble for them, especially because of disliking them.

Idiom: have it in her (have it in him, one etc)

To be capable of (doing something).
Example: I was amazed at Jo's high dive; I didn't think she had it in her

Idiom: in as far as ... (in so far as ...)

To the degree that ... (sometimes written insofar as ...)

Idiom: in as much as ... (inasmuch as ...)

Because ... ; considering that ...

Idiom: in itself

Intrinsically; essentially; considered on its own.
Example: It's not much of a job in itself, but the prospects and perks are good

Idiom: in on something

colloq
Knowing about it and sharing in it
Example: Were you in on the secret?

Idiom: ins and outs

The complex and detailed facts of a matter; intricacies. Also called outs and ins.

Idiom: insomuch that (insomuch as)

In as much as.

To such an extent that.

Idiom: in that ...

For the reason that ...

Idiom: in with someone

colloq
Friendly with them or in favour with them.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.

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ins and outs in

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out
adverb

1. Away from the inside; not in or at a place.

Example: Go out into the garden
2. Not in one's home or place of work.

Example: I called but you were out
Thesaurus: absent, away, busy, elsewhere, gone, left; Antonym: in.
3. To or at an end; to or into a state of being completely finished, exhausted or extinct, etc.

Example: The milk has run out
Example: before the day is out
Example: Put the candle out
4. Aloud.

Example: cry out
5. With care or taking care.

Example: Listen out for the baby
Example: watch out
6. In all directions from a central point.

Example: Share out the sweets
7. To the fullest extent or amount.

Example: Spread the blanket out
8. To public attention or notice; revealed.

Example: The secret is out
9. sport.
Said of a person batting: no longer able to bat, eg because of having the ball caught by an opponent.
Example: bowled out
10. In or into a state of being removed, omitted or forgotten.

Example: miss him out
Example: Rub out the mistake
11. Not to be considered; rejected.

Example: That idea's out
12. Removed; dislocated.

Example: have a tooth out
13. Not in authority; not having political power.

Example: voted them out of office
14. Into unconsciousness.

Example: pass out in the heat
15. In error.

Example: Your total is out by three
16. colloq
Existing.
Example: the best car out
17. Said of a flower: in bloom.
18. Said of a book: published.

Example: will be out in the autumn
19. Visible.

Example: the moon's out
20. No longer in fashion.

Example: Drainpipes are out, flares are in
21. Said of workers: on strike.

Example: called the miners out
22. Said of a jury: considering its verdict.
23. old use
Said of a young woman: introduced into fashionable society.
24. Said of a tide: at or towards the lowest level of water.

Example: going out

adj

1. External.

Thesaurus: outer, removed, distant, external, outside, extraneous, open, exposed; Antonym: inside.
2. Directing or showing direction outwards.

prep

(especially US)
1. colloq
Out of something.
Example: Get out the car

exclamation

1. sport.
Expressing:that the batsman is dismissed.
2. Expressing: that a radio transmission has finished.

Example: over and out

noun

1. A way out, a way of escape; an excuse.

Thesaurus: escape, way out; excuse, explanation.

verb outed, outing

intr
1. To become publicly known.

Example: Murder will out
2. To make public the homosexuality of (a famous person who has been attempting to keep their homosexuality secret). Compare come out (sense 10) at come.

Idiom: be out for something

colloq
To be determined to achieve it.
Example: He's just out for revenge

Idiom: out and about

Active outside the house, especially after an illness.

Idiom: out and away

By far; much.

Idiom: out of something

From inside it.
Example: drive out of the garage

Not in or within it.
Example: be out of the house

Having exhausted a supply of it.
Example: be out of butter

From among several.
Example: two out of three cats

From a material.
Example: made out of wood

Because of it.
Example: out of anger

Beyond the range, scope or bounds of it.
Example: out of reach
Example: out of the ordinary

Excluded from it.
Example: leave him out of the team

No longer in a stated condition.
Example: out of practice

At a stated distance from a place.
Example: a mile out of town

Without or so as to be without something.
Example: cheat him out of his money

Idiom: out of date

Old-fashioned and no longer of use; obsolete.
Thesaurus: passé, old, obsolete, old-fashioned, outmoded, archaic, disused, ancient.

Idiom: out of it

colloq
Not part of, or wanted in, a group or activity, etc.

slang
Unable to behave normally or control oneself, usually because of drink or drugs.

Idiom: out of pocket

Having spent more money than one can afford.

Idiom: out of the way

Difficult to reach or arrive at.
Thesaurus: isolated, secluded, far-off, distant, remote, off the beaten path.

Unusual; uncommon.

Idiom: ins and outs

See ins and outs at in.

Idiom: out to lunch

slang
Said of a person: slightly crazy; in a dream world.

Idiom: out with it!

An exhortation to speak openly.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon ut.