# door opener
## English
### Etymology

(sales): Compare get one's foot in the door.

### Noun

door opener (plural door openers)
* The control mechanism by which a door is latched and unlatched.
** 1988, United States. National Bureau of Standards, Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards, page 336:Last, door systems are examined, particularly locking and latching mechanisms, door openers and door closers.
** 2001, Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, page 1355:[…] the rack being engaged by a meshing door opening and/or closing pinion of a door opener whereby the door is thus capable of being opened upon the door opener controlled rotation of said pinion in one direction and of being closed upon the door opener controlled rotation of such pinion in the other direction.
** 2018, James Gerrie, Technology and Society: A Philosophical Guide, page 92:Latour's iconic example of doors and door openers helps boil down the complexity involved in the creation of any technology to a simple evocative case.
* Any of various devices designed to make opening a door easier.
** 1962, United States. Department of the Air Force, Accident Prevention Handbook: Ground Safety, page 13-5:Car door openers which are said to permit easy one-man operation are available. These devices consist of a light chain fall for attaching to the door handle. When door openers are used, the fixed end of the fall will not be fastened to a car ladder or grab iron.
** 2021, Frank J. Rybicki, 3D Printing in Medicine and Its Role in the COVID-19 Pandemic, page 117:The door openers were printed in PLA at a rate of 70–80 per day at the University of Cincinnati Digital Fabrication Laboratory across roughly 20 3D printers. The door openers were printed in batches of 3–4 per print session on each printer.
** Any of various devices to automatically open a door in response to a sensor or signal sent from a controller.
*** 1959, United States. Federal Communications Commission, Rules and Regulations - Volume 2, page 119:A radio control for a door opener operating above 70 MHz manufactured after March 24, 1971 shall be certificated pursuant to Subpart B of this part.
*** 2003, Carson Dunlop, Principles of Home Inspection: Systems & standards, page 122:Some inspectors will not test an automatic door opener if there is a vehicle parked in the garage under the opener.
*** 2010, Beckstrom, Ortho's Home Repair Problem Solver, page 142:Another cause might be a short in the wire between the door opener and wall button, which can activate the opener at the slightest jiggle.
*** 2019, David Kent Ballast, PPI Interior Construction & Detailing for Designers & Architects:The head-mounted door openers are usually surface-applied to the head of the door frame and operate the door with an arm assembly similar to a standard door closer.
** (firefighting) A crowbar-like tool used by firefighters to quickly force locked doors to open.
*** 1947, Connecticut. Bureau of Vocational Education., Regional Firemen Training Schools - Volume 2, page 8:The two most common types of door openers used are the "Hale" and the "Detroit".
*** 1985, John A. Carley, Mavis V. Whigham, Fire protection specialist (AFSC 57150), page 24:Within this one tool, you have the same basic feature of the door opener, crowbar, and hatchet.
*** 1997, Richard A. Fritz, Tools of the Trade: Firefighting Hand Tools and Their Use, page 27:Although an old tool, the Detroit door opener still functions well when used correctly and will have devastating effects on today's standard locks and door closures.
* Someone who opens doors.
** 1981, David Fox, Mitchell Waite, Pascal Primer, page 16:Imagine our language type as a "door opener." There are two kinds of door openers: “interpreter openers" and "compiler openers." An interpreter opener has a rough job. He must carry a large bag of keys wherever he goes.
** 2014, James Reagan, Leeds House, page 66:Jody steps toward the first door, then motions for his lighting man–Mike, and his designated door opener–Wil, to flank him.
* Any tactic, approach, or giveaway item employed by a salesman to capture the interest of a potential customer.
** 1922, A Salesman's Correspondence, page 60:[…] when working the territory cold, you will find these little notes great door openers.
** 1924, Gas Industry, volume 18, page 121:We occasionally resort to what we call "door openers" to aid the salesman in obtaining an interview. One of these was a bill hook, a very useful little device, for hanging in the kitchen and making it convenient for the housewife […]
** 1966, United States. Federal Trade Commission, Federal Trade Commission Decisions, volume 70:[…] admitted that the salesmen are all door-to-door sales people […] and that many of them […] used different statements as door-openers.
* A communication technique designed to encourage someone to speak openly.
** 2008, Michael D. Reiter, Therapeutic Interviewing, page 70:The therapeutic interviewer can use a door opener to start to explore a particular client concern.
** 2009, Shirley Taylor, Alison Lester, STTS-Communication: Your Key to Success, page 54:Door-openers are like green lights for motorists. They are signals that listeners use to encourage speakers to elaborate on their message.
** 2011, Denise D Witmer, The Everything Parent's Guide to Raising a Successful Child:One important listening skill to have when communicating with your child is being certain to use “door openers,” as opposed to “door slammers.
** 2014, Marty Brounstein, Traci Cumbay, Peter Economy, Managing All-in-One For Dummies, page 272:Sincerity is key to the effectiveness of nonverbal door openers.
* Someone or something that provides someone with opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
** 2010, Don Dickerman, Keep the Pigs Out: How to Slam the Door Shut on Satan and His Demons and Keep Your Spiritual House Clean, page 93:There are so many things that we experience that could be door openers for demons.
** 2017, Eike Marten, Genealogies and Conceptual Belonging, page 68:The story of the mutual 'door-openers,' then, depicts the act of one agent sneaking the other agent into the room behind the door as though the term that opens the door could be used – like the Trojan horse – strictly instrumentally: diversity only opens the door or functions as a container, and in comes gender, or equality or antidiscrimination.
** 2021, Stephanie Malia Krauss, Making It: What Today's Kids Need for Tomorrow's World, page 76:Door openers are social mobilizers and bridges, introducing or integrating young people into their own networks and groups, extending their social capital and connections to provide new social, cultural, and economic benefits. Those born into wealthy families may inherit powerful door openers.

#### Translations
### See also

* garage door opener