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bells and whistles

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
bells and whistles
A slang English term for exceptional features in some product. In the computer field, it typically refers to functions in software that may be greatly appreciated by some users, even though they may not be necessary most of the time. Bells and whistles are extra "goodies" that are often added to help make the product more appealing. Contrast with plain vanilla.
bells and whistles [′belz ən ′wis·əlz]
(computer science)
Special hardware features that are likely to attract attention but may not be important or even practical.

(jargon)bells and whistles - (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.


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This is a first rate facility with all the bells and whistles on 3 acres of land, 4 double wide portables and an unlicensed 1800 sq.
FAME (PG, 107mins) SNAZZY updating of the 1980 classic gives you all you'd expect and a few new bells and whistles too.
Tide Basic--a powder detergent which is on shelves in 100 Wal-Mart and Kroger stores in southern and southwestern states--offers the same cleaning quality, but not the bells and whistles P&G has added to the newer formulations, such as Tide Total Care.
 
 
 
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