in and out—
1. said of smb. coming and going from a place all the time:
- Sam was in and out of the office most of the day today.
2. (of work, etc.) not continuous; done at irregular intervals:
- His engagements are only for particular plays—“in and out” work.
ins and outs—
1. the details or fine points of smth.:
- She left the explanation to those who pretended to understand the ins and outs of the gravest mysteries of life.
2. people holding office and those out of office or in opposition:
- In Britain the parties are organized under party chiefs, and elections are simply a struggle between the ins and the outs.
See also: inside and out / inside out.