bells and whistles
Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The new phone has all the bells and whistles.”
“I just need a basic laptop, not one with all the bells and whistles.”
“The software, stripped of its bells and whistles, proved far more reliable than the bloated version marketing had demanded.”
- 01
bear away the bell
To be superior in something.
- 02
bell out
To open out into a bell shape.
- 03
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 04
blow the whistle
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
- 05
clean as a whistle
Very clean.
- 06
lose the bell
To be defeated in a contest.
- 07
make pigs and whistles of
To ruin (something); to make a severe mess of (something).
- 08
not worth a whistle
Worthless or pointless.
Last updated August 10, 2026