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
So long, in fact, that Liberty Films issued a wrap announcement on their new film in December 2023, and, when this interview took place earlier this month, were still tinkering with it, adding a few very last-minute bells and whistles.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
There’s no bells and whistles with her.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Designed with three zones to address hip and lumbar support and cooling technology with a layer of the brand’s Cool Twist gel foam, there are just enough bells and whistles in this relatively simple mattress.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bells and whistles
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
There’s no bells and whistles with her.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Designed with three zones to address hip and lumbar support and cooling technology with a layer of the brand’s Cool Twist gel foam, there are just enough bells and whistles in this relatively simple mattress.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s no gimmicks or bells and whistles to this story.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
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 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
