Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

bells-and-whistles

idiom

/ˈbɛlz ənd ˈwɪsəlz/

Definition

Additional features or enhancements that are not strictly necessary but add to the appeal or functionality of something.

Examples

The new smartphone comes with all the bells and whistles you could want: a fantastic camera, facial recognition, and water resistance.
While the basic software is effective, the bells and whistles make it much more enjoyable to use.

Meaning

The term ‘bells-and-whistles’ refers to extra features that are added to a product or service to make it more attractive or impressive, but they are not essential to the main function.