Phrase guide

bells and whistles

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Examples

  • His new car has all the bells and whistles, but it doesn't move through traffic jams any faster.
  • The bells and whistles do not impress me.
  • I need a new phone, but I don’t want all those fancy bells and whistles on it!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gadgetry, trivialities, frills and furbelows

Antonyms: plain, no-frills, normal, ordinary, simple, unadorned

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: финтифлюшки (fintifljuški) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Chinese Mandarin: 花哨的附加功能 (huāshao de fùjiā gōngnéng) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Dutch: toeters en bellen — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Finnish: hienoudet — extra features added for show rather than function
  • French: fioritures — extra features added for show rather than function
  • French: futilités — extra features added for show rather than function
  • French: frivolités — extra features added for show rather than function
  • French: tralala — extra features added for show rather than function
  • French: fanfreluche — extra features added for show rather than function
  • German: Schnickschnack — extra features added for show rather than function
  • German: Klimbim — extra features added for show rather than function
  • German: Zierrat — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Hebrew: רַעַשׁ וְצִלְצוּלִים (rá'ash v'tsiltsulím) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Italian: facezia riempitiva — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Polish: wodotryski — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Polish: bajery — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Russian: прибамбасы (pribambasy) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Russian: навороты (navoroty) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Russian: свистелки и перделки (svistelki i perdelki) — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Spanish: ringorrangos — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Spanish: ful extras — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Spanish: ful equipo — extra features added for show rather than function
  • Spanish: lujos y accesorios — extra features added for show rather than function