People in power or having influence, or entrances; the plural of 'in' used in phrases like 'ins and outs.'
From Old English 'in,' one of the oldest English words meaning inside or within. As a noun, it developed to mean those with power or those who belong to a group.
The phrase 'ins and outs' comes from the idea of political power—if you were 'in,' you had access and influence; if you were 'out,' you were excluded, making it a metaphor for being inside or outside the circle of power.
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