People are just realising what small hole in nail clippers is actually for

Have you ever wondered what the small hole at the end of your nail clippers is for?

Invented in 1875 as a replacement for hacking off our nails with small pair of scissors or peeling them off with a knife, nail clippers are a pretty essential part of personal grooming, with nearly every home owning at least one pair.

Chances are, you've probably never really paid close attention to the tiny hole at the bottom of the tool, but if you run to the bathroom and grab your nail clippers you're likely to notice a small hole at the end.

So what is it for?

The question was one posed by a puzzled user on Facebook, who revealed the topic had come up during a conversation with their mother-in-law.

"My mother-in-law couldn’t stop laughing when she realised I had no idea what the tiny hole in a nail clipper is for," they wrote.

Ah the humble nail clipper, staple in every home (Getty Stock Images)

"Now I wonder … am I the only one who never knew?"

The question of course sparked numerous theories in the comments, with people trying to guess why a nail clipper needed a tiny hole.

"Is it to keep your toenail clippings," joked one person, while a second added: "Maybe it’s a place to store dental floss."

As creative as the above guesses are, they are unfortunately very wrong. So what is the actual purpose of the hole?

Turns out it's for functional purposes, as it allows people to attach their nail clippers to a keyring or chain.

Which come to think of it, I do recall seeing a pair of nail clippers which came with their own chain as a child.

Although I would imagine you'd get some strange looks if you whipped your clippers out and started trimming your nails on the bus or in a cafe – but surely that's more convenient than emptying out the bathroom draws every time you need them.

You could even attach your nail clippers to a set of house keys, should you wish (Getty Stock Images)

The revelation came as a surprise to many, with one person joking: "I’ll never look at my nail clippers the same way," while another joked: "Time to attach them to my keys!"

The small hole at the end isn't the only functional aspect of your nail clippers either, which most tools also including a small nail file underneath. While not as good as a separate nail file, they can certainly come handy in a pinch.

As will the small hook at the end, which most people use as a way to clean the gunk out from under their nails.

So now you have the perfect anecdote for whoever wins a pair of nail clippers in a Christmas cracker.