the ins and outs
plural noun
: the details about how something works or is done
—often + of
I'm still learning all the ins and outs of American politics.
Examples of the ins and outs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Preparations for the inaugural venture started this week, with some 150 students from two dozen high schools across suburban Cook County learning the ins and outs of running a polling place at a series of training sessions.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Athletic has a handy guide to bring you up to speed on the ins and outs of the portal, what’s new, who to watch and what to expect.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
As June's health declines, though, Mirren — who Winslet says has a personal rule of not playing characters with dementia or cancer, but broke that rule for her director — preferred not to discuss the ins and outs of the illness.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
The author details the ins and outs of her job as a therapist while attending therapy herself.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ins and outs
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Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Athletic has a handy guide to bring you up to speed on the ins and outs of the portal, what’s new, who to watch and what to expect.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
As June's health declines, though, Mirren — who Winslet says has a personal rule of not playing characters with dementia or cancer, but broke that rule for her director — preferred not to discuss the ins and outs of the illness.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
The author details the ins and outs of her job as a therapist while attending therapy herself.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the ins and outs
Cite this Entry
“The ins and outs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20ins%20and%20outs. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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