A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

insensitive about something • insensitive to
 something
insensitive about something —not easily offended or worried
about smth.: Ping mentally berated herself for being so
absolutely insensitive about the cleanliness of his house.
insensitive to something —
1
. not susceptible or vulnerable to
smth.: The virus is highly insensitive to cold, which renders
it capable of surviving during prolonged periods of sub-freez-
ing temperatures. 2. unable to understanding other people’s
feelings, hardships, etc.: We put blinders on our ability to see
the needs of others. We become insensitive to their problems,
to their suffering, to their poverty.
inset something • set in something
inset something —insert smth. into a larger thing: Mr. Talaga
carved the plaque and inset it into the granite boulder he
placed under the flowering bush.
set in something —add smth. to existing items: The city has
approved the plan to set in another mobile home shop tem-
porarily while construction of building is going on.
inside and out • inside out
inside and out—in every part; throughout: We searched the
house inside and out for the kitten.
inside out—
1
. so that the inside is turned outside: Mother
turns the stockings inside out when she washes them. 2. know
smth. extremely well: Duane has worked on numerous Toyotas
so knows them inside out.
See also: in and out / ins and outs.
inside of something • inside something
inside of something —in less than a particular period of time:
Our experiences have been so many and varied that it’s hard
to believe it all happened inside of one week.
inside something —
1
. within smth.: Several sources inside the
committee confirmed that some members are considering
walking out of the meeting. 2. = inside of something: Many
species can lay eggs continuously and with ideal temperatures
a cycle can be completed inside one week.