Here are its main purposes:
- Keychain attachment (the primary purpose)
- The small hole lets you attach the nail clipper to a key ring, lanyard, or small chain.
- This makes it easy to carry and harder to lose, especially in travel kits or on keychains.
- Hanging for storage
- Some people use the hole to hang the clipper on a hook in the bathroom or inside a grooming kit.
- Part of the lever mechanism
- On many nail clippers, the lever has a pin that fits through this hole during assembly. This allows the lever to rotate and apply pressure to the cutting blades. While you don’t interact with it during normal use, it’s an important part of how the clipper is built.
- Travel convenience
- Compact multitools and travel grooming kits often use this hole to secure the clipper with a cord or retractable clip.
A few other nail clipper features many people don’t know about
- The tiny metal file attached to many clippers isn’t just for smoothing nails—it often has a pointed tip that can help gently clean under nails.
- The folding lever can be rotated 180° before use. Many people don’t realize it’s designed to flip around after being removed from the pin.
- The curved vs. straight edge: Curved clippers are generally intended for fingernails, while straight-edge clippers are often preferred for toenails because they can help reduce the risk of ingrown nails when used properly.
So, if your mother-in-law had a good laugh, you’re in good company. It’s a surprisingly common “hidden in plain sight” feature that many people never learn about until someone points it out.