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
United Airlines is adding some extra bells and whistles to its new Boeing fleet.
—
Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 13 May 2025
At a super-affordable price, this camera has 360 PTZ rotation capabilities, 1080p HD resolution, 8X digital zoom, 2-way audio, night vision—all the bells and whistles for under $50.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 12 May 2025
A lot of bells and whistles for what ended up being a highly entertaining match.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
High-profile former cable anchors—including Joy Reid, axed from MSNBC (to Maddow’s dismay) during the same programming reshuffle that saw Psaki elevated—have found an audience by posting independently to Substack, stripped of the bells and whistles of a fancy studio.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
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Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 13 May 2025
At a super-affordable price, this camera has 360 PTZ rotation capabilities, 1080p HD resolution, 8X digital zoom, 2-way audio, night vision—all the bells and whistles for under $50.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 12 May 2025
A lot of bells and whistles for what ended up being a highly entertaining match.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
High-profile former cable anchors—including Joy Reid, axed from MSNBC (to Maddow’s dismay) during the same programming reshuffle that saw Psaki elevated—have found an audience by posting independently to Substack, stripped of the bells and whistles of a fancy studio.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 9 May 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 25 May. 2025.
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