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I have been watching a lot of American movies and recently I hear people (in the movies) say "I'll be in and out" a couple of times in action movies or movies about gangsters.

The dictionary says:

be in and out

  1. To go into some place and complete one's business there very quickly or efficiently.

Don't worry, I'll be in and out—I just have to get some cash from the ATM.

Please? We'll be in and out—it'll only take five minutes.

A: "Wow, you were in and out quick." B: "Yeah, well, I only had to get toothpaste."

You're going to a place like a store or a house with your friend in your car and you want your friend to sit in the car to wait for you.

Can I say "I'll be in and out" in this case?

It seems most people say "I'll be right back".

When do you say "I'll be right back" and "I'll be in and out"?

Note: American movies (especially action ones) use a lot terms that are not common. For example, they say "if things go sideways" instead of "if things go wrong"

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    PLEASE NOTE: the idiom to be in and out is not limited to American movies. It is a common expression in English AND go sideways is in the dictionary. THis is not about English per se because I'm sure that in Vietnamese you can distinguish between these two meanings, Commented Jul 17 at 13:55
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    There's nothing uncommon about "if things go wrong." Substituting "sideways" is more colloquial and limited in usage, especially when plans go wrong. Please ask a separate question about it if you want to know more, but research it first and tell about what you find. Commented Jul 17 at 15:33
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    What do you want to know beyond what's in the question? People say it sometimes but it's less common than some alternatives. What evidence do you want? More films in which characters say it? More dictionary definitions? Commented Jul 17 at 15:46

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I'll be in and out can mean "I have only a very brief errand or bit of business to conduct. I'll be very quick, it won't take long at all" or it can mean "I have a number of errands to do, so you may or may not be able to find me at home (or in my office) if you drop by. I'll be coming back between errands but soon leaving again on another."

I'll be in and out. You can keep the car idling.

I'll be in and out all morning. Better to come by in the afternoon.

Both are common colloquial expressions.

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    If repeated, you could be 'in and out like a fiddler's elbow', as my mother used to say. Commented Jul 17 at 13:35
  • I really like this answer. If one could give it a +2, I would. Commented Jul 18 at 14:05
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I should think it should be obvious: You can't use "in and out" when you're not going into or out of anything. "I'm going on a walk; I'll be in and out": no. (In fact, that's going out and then back in!) "I'll be right back" remains useable there, just as when going into and out of a store, because in both cases it's literally true: "I will return soon."

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"In and out" has two different meanings. One is the meaning you found: to go in to some place -- a store or government office or whatever -- accomplish what you wanted to accomplish, and leave. Like, "I need to go to the store to buy a dozen eggs. I'll be in and out in five minutes -- I just need to pick up the eggs and go." "In and out" can also mean that the person will be coming and going, that they will be where you expect them part of the time and be other places part of the time. Like, "You can try to call me at home, but I have many errands to run. I'll be in and out all day."

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