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
Finding good Japanese food in London hasn’t always been the easiest task, given the city’s abundance of mediocre sushi takeaway spots and gaudy central London restaurants serving sub-par fish dressed up with too many bells and whistles.
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Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
The thermostat ranges from 41 to 95ºF and the wall-mounting doesn’t require any bells and whistles.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
With one swish of her hair, Thompson reminded us that beauty doesn’t always require bells and whistles.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
How’s that for bells and whistles?
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bells and whistles
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Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
The thermostat ranges from 41 to 95ºF and the wall-mounting doesn’t require any bells and whistles.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
With one swish of her hair, Thompson reminded us that beauty doesn’t always require bells and whistles.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
How’s that for bells and whistles?
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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