# Question about keychain bottle openers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 9, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876 "2014-10-09T16:13:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876/1 "2014-10-09T16:13:19Z")

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[Behold these two keychain bottle openers](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ben1cs/15301218489/).

The foreground example, well-weathered and well-used, bears the name and logo of the local gay communist atheist satanist alternative newspaper. (Needless to say, City Weekly features _The Straight Dope_ each week.) It resides in my nasssty little pocketeses. (Specifically, the right front one, where it has been for a few years.)

The farther example, shiny and new, is a gift from my best friend, who recently got his Master’s degree from the Chicago-area institute of higher learning whose name is emblazoned thereon. (I doubt I’ll actually put it on my keychain, because: (a) it looks too nice; and (b) it would make me a colossal poser, since I didn’t go to NU.)

The two devices are nearly alike in form, dignity, and function, but for this one difference: the Northwestern University bottle opener has an…extra…thingamabob on the back. What’s that for?

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**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876/2 "2014-10-09T16:16:19Z")

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My guess is to pry up the tabs on aluminum pop and beer cans.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876/3 "2014-10-09T16:16:58Z")

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Do you mean the little slot? Don’t know but could be intended for opening flip top cans. Some [del]waitresses[/del] [del]stewardesses[/del] flight attendants on planes use something like that.

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**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876/4 "2014-10-09T16:22:24Z")

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> [@Kimballkid](#):
>
> My guess is to pry up the tabs on aluminum pop and beer cans.

Ah, that makes sense.

> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Do you mean the little slot? Don’t know but could be intended for opening flip top cans. Some [del]waitresses[/del] [del]stewardesses[/del] flight attendants on planes use something like that.

That’s what their long sexy nails are for. Damn women’s lib! :mad:

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-keychain-bottle-openers/700876/5 "2014-10-09T21:39:25Z")

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Beer can/pop can opener. You are mistaken about the nails, though; they’re for leaving marks of passion on one’s back…🙂