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
And beyond the undeniably impressive bells and whistles, these over-the-top sails deliver one-of-a-kind vantage points of Lady Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the city skyline.
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Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Still, this didn’t diminish the strength of the performances, and the Blinks in the crowd didn’t need the bells and whistles to be entranced.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2025
There are no excessive bells and whistles, just accessible, effective functionality that makes sense.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The only thing that’s better than an affordable suitcase with all the bells and whistles is a nesting luggage set that can survive a three-week trip.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bells and whistles
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Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Still, this didn’t diminish the strength of the performances, and the Blinks in the crowd didn’t need the bells and whistles to be entranced.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2025
There are no excessive bells and whistles, just accessible, effective functionality that makes sense.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The only thing that’s better than an affordable suitcase with all the bells and whistles is a nesting luggage set that can survive a three-week trip.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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