ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bells and whistles

idiom
Meaning

Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.


Examples
SIMPLE

The new phone has all the bells and whistles.

CONTEXTUAL

I just need a basic laptop, not one with all the bells and whistles.

COMPLEX

The software, stripped of its bells and whistles, proved far more reliable than the bloated version marketing had demanded.

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    make pigs and whistles of

    To ruin (something); to make a severe mess of (something).

  2. 02

    pull the other one, it's got bells on

    Expresses disbelief.

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