bells and whistles
Americanplural noun
plural noun
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additional features or accessories which are nonessential but very attractive
my car has all the latest bells and whistles
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additions, such as options or warranties, made to a financial product to increase its market appeal
Etymology
Origin of bells and whistles
First recorded in 1970–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I do not think of myself as a guy who’s above trying out little bells and whistles.
From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026
Ultimately, large customers are going to develop some of their own bells and whistles, or cut seats.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
But in a digital age of flashier bells and whistles, why are comics appealing to them?
From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025
Flighty users pay for access to the full suite of bells and whistles, though a limited version of the app is free to download.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025
If you find it a breeze to write a simple sentence, but start hyperventilating when a few bells and whistles are added, you’re not alone.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
