Bought a box of kitchen junk for $5. This wooden hinged tool was at the bottom. It doesn’t seem to grip anything tight enough to be tongs. Any thoughts?

glance.
2. First Impressions: Why It Doesn’t Work Like Tongs
Upon inspecting the tool, my initial assumption was that it might be a form of tongs. However, the lack of grip strength quickly dispelled that notion. The two arms of the tool, while hinged at one end, did not close tightly enough to securely hold an object. Instead, they moved in a manner that was more expansive, opening much wider than traditional tongs.
The design seemed ill-suited for any kitchen task I could imagine, whether flipping pancakes or serving salad.