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bells and whistles

plural noun Informal.

features added to a product; special parts or functions; extras.

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Origin:
1970–75

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To bells and whistles

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Bells and whistles is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

bells and whistles

—*pl n*
1.	additional features or accessories which are nonessential but very attractive: my car has all the latest bells and whistles
2.	additions, such as options or warranties, made to a financial product to increase its market appeal

[C20: from the bells and whistles which used to decorate fairground organs]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Slang Dictionary

bells and whistles definition

n.
extra, fancy gadgets. : All those bells and whistles add to the cost.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary

bells and whistles definition

jargon
(By analogy with the "toyboxes" on theatre organs). Features added to a program or system to make it more flavourful from a hacker's point of view, without necessarily adding to its utility for its primary function. Distinguished from chrome, which is intended to attract users. "Now that we've got the basic program working, let's go back and add some bells and whistles." No one seems to know what distinguishes a bell from a whistle.
[Jargon File]
(2007-04-03)

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People who can define Bells and whistles may know 45,520 words, as many as a 12th grader.

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