Abstract: A tong-like device for opening jar lids of various sizes, having a retaining handle and an actuating handle that is swivelable on it about a bearing, a drawbar longitudinally adjustable with the retaining handle and having a clamping bracket, and retaining claws provided on the end of the retaining handle; a draw plate (24) is displaceable on the flat drawbar (11) having the clamping bracket (13) and is pressed via a compression spring against a guide wall (22) that is at right angles to the drawbar (11), in such a manner that an impingement region (26) of the draw plate rests against a pressure rib (27) of the actuating handle (1) that is swivelable about a bearing (2).