Cryptic crossword clue
Unfortunately, they lack an opener 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LATCHKEY

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
L
A
T
C
H
K
E
Y

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "opener" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case opener = latchkey.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does LATCHKEY mean?

LATCHKEY noun
  1. A key, especially to an outside door.
  2. A child who is given a key to the home and is expected to remain at home alone (without adult supervision until the parents return from work).
LATCHKEY adjective
  1. Equipped with a key; generally in the phrase latchkey child.

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