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bells and whistles
plural noun
: items or features that are useful or decorative but not essential : frills
Examples of bells and whistles in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kids might gravitate at first to the toys with the most bells and whistles — like, for example, these cursed electronic stuffies that emit bloodcurdling screams when thrown.
—Anna North, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
KitchenAid Pro Line and Professional Series stand mixers KitchenAid Professional Series mixers have all the bells and whistles.
—Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024
This kitchen will have tons of space and all the bells and whistles that a celebrity chef could want — within reach of an earnest but admittedly still-learning home chef.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Aptly titled Britney: Piece of Me, the 90-minute show featured over two dozen hits, incorporating classics and fan favorites with the bells and whistles of her typical pop production.
—James Dinh, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1968, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bells and whistles was
in 1968
Dictionary Entries Near bells and whistles
Cite this Entry
“Bells and whistles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bells%20and%20whistles. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
bells and whistles
plural noun
: items or features that are useful or decorative but not necessary
a new car with lots of bells and whistles
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