"were in on" is a phrasal verb that combines the verb "were" (the past tense of the verb "to be") and the prepositions "in" and "on." It is used to describe a situation where a person or group of people had prior knowledge or were aware of something that was happening or about to happen.
When someone says they "were in on" something, it means they were part of a plan, scheme, or secret that others were not aware of. This phrase indicates inclusion or involvement in a particular activity or event.
For example, if a group of friends plan a surprise party for one of their friends and one of the friends says, "We were all in on the surprise," it means that everyone in the group had knowledge of the surprise party and actively participated in planning it.
"Were in on" can also be used to describe being aware of or knowledgeable about a specific piece of information. For instance, if someone says, "I knew about their engagement before anyone else; I was in on it," they are indicating that they were privy to the information of the engagement before it was publicly announced.
In summary, "were in on" refers to a state of being included, informed, or having prior knowledge of a situation, plan, or secret, suggesting involvement or awareness beyond others.
