What Does Each Can Tab Mean and Why Do People Give Them Out?

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Learn what soda can tabs mean and why everyone’s wearing them

Co-authored by Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: January 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Meanings
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• What does it mean when someone gives you a can tab?
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• Can Tab Necklace Meaning
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• Q&A

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According to TikTok, how a can tab breaks off can have different interesting meanings related to your romantic life. Like the nail polish trend, where the color you paint signifies whether you’re dating or single, the can tab trend can be used to predict your romantic future. If someone gives you a soda tab, it could mean they have a crush on you! If you’re not sure what someone means when they give you a tab, don't be afraid to just ask them. Keep reading to learn more about this viral TikTok trend.

Things You Should Know

• If you get a semi-circle-shaped hole in the bottom of your can tab, it means you’ll get a hug from someone you like.
• If you get a rainbow-shaped hole with a smaller hole in the bottom, it means you’ll get a kiss. If you get a rainbow-shaped hole without a hole, you’ll hook up with someone.
• Depending on its shape, when someone gives you a tab, it means they like you and they want to hug, kiss, or hook up with you.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Soda Can Tab Meanings

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1. 1
   A semi-circle can tab hole means you’ll get a hug. If you snap a can tab and the bottom hole looks like a semi-circle, it might mean that the person you have a crush on will hug you sometime soon.

   • This can tab is the easiest to try and collect—all you do is flip it forward and backward until it breaks off naturally.
   • This trend originally went viral when TikToker @isopropyl_alchoh0l explained what each tab means.
2. 2
   A rainbow shape with a hole means you’ll get a kiss. When you break a tab off the top of a can and it looks like a rainbow with a small hole underneath it, it may be a sign that someone you’ve liked for a long time will finally make their move.

   • To get a rainbow-shaped can tab with a hole without leaving it to chance, this TikToker recommends twisting the tab over the drinking hole. Flip the tab forward and backward until it breaks off.
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3. 3
   A rainbow shape without a hole means you’ll hook up with someone. There’s a chance that when you break off the tab, you’ll get a rainbow shape without a hole at the bottom. If you get one of these tabs, it might mean that you’re going to hook up with the person you like.

   • This happens when the button that attaches the tab to the can snaps off along with the tab.
   • To take out a can tab and keep the button intact, this TikToker recommends twisting the tab around over the drinking hole. Keep a finger over the button and twist the tab forward to remove it.
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Section 2 of 3:

What does it mean when someone gives you a can tab?

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1. When someone gives you a can tab, it means they have a crush on you. The shape of the can tab might have significance, too—if they hand you a semi-circle tab, it might mean they want to hug you, a rainbow shape with a hole means they want to kiss you, and a rainbow shape without a hole… well, you get the picture!

   • This TikTok says that when someone gives you 2 semi-circle tabs, it means they want to hold your hand.
   • If you’re not sure what someone means when they give you a can tab, you can always ask. It may be better to make sure that someone is giving you a signal than assuming that they are.

Section 3 of 3:

What does a can tab necklace mean?

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1. A soda can tab necklace means the person likes the show Outer Banks. If you see someone wearing a necklace with a single soda can tab, it doesn’t have any secret meaning. They’re probably just following a new fashion trend created by the character Sarah on the Netflix show Outer Banks.

   • To make this viral necklace, just take a silver beaded necklace chain and thread it through the top of a can tab.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  I've looked at several soda cans and I don't understand how the "hook up tab" is even possible?

  

  Colt Grant

  Community Answer

  When you remove the tab you can see the filler of the hole on the top of the can.

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