subs. (colloquial).—A person in, or holding an office; specifically, (in politics) a member of the party in office. Cf. OUT.
1768. GOLDSMITH, The Good-Natured Man, v. Was it for this I have been dreaded both by INS and outs? Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James’s?
1770. CHATTERTON, The Prophecy, xiii.
| And doomed a victim for the sins | |
| Of half the outs, and all the INS. |
1842. DICKENS, American Notes, ch. ii. The INS rubbed their hands; the outs shook their heads.
1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone (5th ed.), p. 216. If he had played one card otherwise, or backed the IN instead of the Out.
1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 20 March, p. 1, col. 2. When there shall be no distinction in principle between Radicals and Tories, but a mere scramble for office between INS and ‘outs.’ Ibid., 7 July. The pledges which the INS have to contend with in their strife with the Outs.
1888. Boston Daily Globe. It is the civil service that turns out all the INS and puts in the outs.
1890. C. L. NORTON, Political Americanisms, s.v. INS AND OUTS.
Adv. (colloquial).—Various: (cricketers’) = at the wickets; (general) = in season; also, on an equality with, sharing, or intimate with, or fashionable; (political) = in office; (thieves’) = in prison, or QUODDED (q.v.).
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i., p. 85. During July cherries are IN as well as raspberries.
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 147. It is the etiquette among prisoners never to ask a man what he is ‘IN for.’ The badge upon his left arm gives his sentence.
1883. Punch, 28 July, p. 38, col. 1. I was IN it, old man, and no kid.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, p. 180. You are all IN with me at this.
1892. HUME NISBET, The Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 311. Jenkins has been on a visit to us for the past two months, so that we are all IN it.
1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Waters, xxx. Are the ’orses he backs what you ’d call well IN?
TO BE IN (or IN IT) WITH ONE, verb. phr. (common).—1. To be ‘even with’; to be on guard against.
2. (colloquial).—To be on intimate terms, or in partnership with; to be in the SWIM (q.v.). Cf., IN, prep.
1845. SURTEES, Hillingdon Hall, v. p. 22 (1888). He was IN with the players too, and had the entrée of most of the minor theatres.
1879. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, Donna Quixote, xxxii. You have gone a great deal too far to turn back now, let me tell you. You have been IN with me from the very first.
1888. J. MCCARTHY, and R. CAMPBELL PRAED, The Ladies’ Gallery, xxii. The love of woman, the thirst for gold, the desire for drink, the ambition of high command, are not IN it with the love of speech-making when once that has got its hold.
1892. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 27 Feb., p. 71, col. 3. Peter was fascinated all the time. Hypnotism was not IN it as compared with the effect of that … umbrella.
TO BE IN FOR IT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To be in trouble; generally to be certain to receive, suffer, or do (something).
1668. DRYDEN, An Evening’s Love, ii. I fear I am IN for a week longer than I propos’d.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iv. 1. I was IN FOR a list of blunders.
2. (colloquial).—To be with child.
IN FOR THE PLATE, phr. (old).—Venereally infected.
FOR ALL THERE’S IN IT, phr. (common).—To the utmost capacity (of persons and things). TO PLAY ONE’S HAND FOR ALL THERE’S IN IT = to use fair means or foul to attain an object.
1888. ROOSEVELT, Ranch Life and the Hunting-Trail, ch. iv. Cowboys must ride FOR ALL THERE IS IN THEM and spare neither their own nor their horses’ necks.
TO GET IT IN FOR ONE, verb. phr. (common).—To remember to one’s disadvantage.
1864. Derby Day, p. 121. ‘Brentford’: cried the tout. ‘That was a bad job for you, guv’nor, I’ve GOT IT IN FOR you. I don’t forget if I do look a fool.’
[For combinations see ALTITUDES; ARMS OF MORPHEUS; BAD WAY; BLUES; BOTTOM OF THE BAG; BUFF; BUNCH; CART; CLICK; CLOVER; CRACK; CROOK; CUPS; DEAD ERNEST; DIFFICULTY; HOLE; JIFFY; JUG; KISH; KNOW; LAVENDER; LIMBO; LIQUOR; LURCH; PATTER; POUND; PRINT; QUEER STREET; RAGS; RUNNING; SHAPE; SHELL; SKIFFLE; SLASH; STATE OF NATURE; STRAW; STRING; SUDS; SUN; SWIM; TIN-POT WAY; TOWN; TWINKLING; WATER; WIND; WRONG BOX, etc.]
