What is Church Key?
1.
A beer can opener. Unfortunately, use of this instrument has declined since the pop top appeared in the mid 1960s.
Lolly and Harriet are bringing the beer. Don't forget to bring a church key.
2.
a bottle opener
Hey Joe, where'd you leave the church key. This ain't no twist off, y' know.
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3.
Instrument used to open beer cans.
Conrad Birdie: "You got a church key, man?"
Mr. McAfee: "We've got a church, but it's open."
Conrad Birdie: "A can opener, man! Man, you're from nowhere like."
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4.
a bottle or can opener (cans had no opening tabs when this word originated)
Don't forget to hang up the church key when you are done with it.
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5.
In the days of my youth, before twist off bottle caps, "church key" only refered to bottle openers made of heavy gauge bent wire.
I stopped at the beer distributers and picked up a case of Duke, they gave me a church key so we're ready to go.
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