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
The same goes for the other bells and whistles of Pynchon’s style; even a seventy-million-trick pony is still a trick pony, and much of what once seemed clever in his canon now seems tiresome.
—
Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
With the new era’s bells and whistles unraveling left and right, the host has noticed that each and every season impacts the players and games that follow.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025
But a state visit, hosted by the monarch with all the bells and whistles aimed at strengthening relationships between the countries, are relatively rare.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Modern dishwashers have more digital bells and whistles than predecessor models, granted.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bells and whistles
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Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
With the new era’s bells and whistles unraveling left and right, the host has noticed that each and every season impacts the players and games that follow.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025
But a state visit, hosted by the monarch with all the bells and whistles aimed at strengthening relationships between the countries, are relatively rare.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Modern dishwashers have more digital bells and whistles than predecessor models, granted.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 2025.
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