Feifei Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Neil …and hello, I am Neil.
Feifei You look busy. What are you doing today?
Neil Well, I’m getting ready to go shopping. I need to buy a suit jacket – probably grey. Then, I’ll probably buy a grey and purple tie which will match the purple flowers on my shirt. You see, I’ve got a wedding to go to which…
Feifei Neil! Stop! You could have just said you were about to go shopping. I don’t need all the ins and outs of your trip!
Neil The ins and outs? You mean you want directions for which shops I’m going in?
Feifei Definitely not, Neil! I said ‘the ins and outs’. We use the expression ‘the ins and outs’ as a way to mean ‘all the details’. We can use this expression in everyday situations, in the office.
Neil So, you don’t want to know the ins and outs about my shopping trip then?
Feifei Not at all. I’ve seen the clothes you wear, so I have no desire to know the ins and outs of where you go shopping.
Neil Well, maybe we can talk less about shopping and more about the details of this expression after these examples.
Examples I sat in the office while my new boss explained the ins and outs of the job.
Tell me the ins and outs of the backstory behind the film.
Keep your email short. We don’t need to know all the ins and outs.
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the expression ‘the ins and outs’, which means ‘all the details’. It can be used in both personal and professional life. Wow, Neil. Is that new suit you’re wearing something you just bought?
Neil Yes, it is.
Feifei Well, where did you buy it? How much was it? It looks amazing!
Neil Sorry, Feifei. I’m not saying anything. You didn’t want to know the ins and outs when I tried to tell you earlier.
Feifei Yes, that’s when I thought you only buy terrible clothes. Now, I want to know!
Neil I’m afraid you had your chance. Now I’m off to show off my new suit I bought!
Feifei Where, Neil, where?!
Neil Bye!
Feifei Bye.