LinkedIn PinpointAnswer & Solution
LinkedIn Pinpoint 540 Answer
LINKEDIN PINPOINT
October 22, 2025
Lame
Sitting
Rubber
Peking
Donald
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When I first saw the clue "Lame," my brain went in a few different directions. I immediately thought of a "lame excuse" or perhaps someone with a "lame leg." As a solver, you’re always looking for a word that can pair with the clue to form a common phrase. At first, I actually wondered if the theme might be "Excuses" or "Weaknesses," but that felt a bit too abstract for a Pinpoint puzzle.
Then the second clue, "Sitting," popped up. Now I had "Lame" and "Sitting." This is where the lightbulb moment usually starts. I thought about "Sitting room" or "Sitting pretty," but then I tried to connect it back to "Lame." Suddenly, "Lame Duck" and "Sitting Duck" clicked together. A "sitting duck" is an easy target, and a "lame duck" is that politician finishing their term. I felt pretty confident, but I wanted to see the next clue just to be 100% sure before locking it in.
The third clue was "Rubber." That was the clincher. "Rubber Duck" is a universal childhood staple. At this point, I didn't even need to guess—I knew the connection was the word "Duck." However, to be a professional about it, I waited to see how the rest of the clues fit into the puzzle's logic.
When "Peking" appeared, it solidified the culinary aspect. Peking Duck is one of the most famous dishes in the world. Finally, "Donald" was the cherry on top. You can't have a list of ducks without mentioning the most famous one in Disney history.
The progression of these clues was great because it moved from political and idiomatic expressions (Lame, Sitting) to everyday objects (Rubber), then to food (Peking), and finally to a specific character (Donald). It covered almost every way we use the word "Duck" in English.
Lessons Learned
Look for Idioms First: Many Pinpoint puzzles rely on common idioms. "Lame" and "Sitting" are perfect examples of words that don't seem related until you realize they both precede the same noun in a famous saying.
Context Shifts are Key: Notice how the puzzle jumped from politics to the bathroom (rubber) to the kitchen (Peking). When you are stuck, try to change the "category" of the word in your head. If a word doesn't work as a verb, try it as a noun or a brand name.
Don't Rush the First Clue: "Lame" is a very broad word. If I had guessed "Excuse" or "Walk" right away, I would have lost my streak. It's always better to wait for the second clue to find the intersection between two different ideas.
Identify the "Anchor" Word: In every Pinpoint, there is usually one clue that is much more specific than the others. In this set, "Peking" and "Donald" are very strong anchors. If you see those, you can almost immediately work backward to find the common link.
Expert Q&A
Why is a politician called a 'Lame Duck'?
This term originated in the 1700s to describe stockbrokers who couldn't pay their debts, but it eventually shifted to politics. It describes an official who is in their final days of office, meaning they have very little "walking" power or influence left because everyone is focused on the person taking their place.
Is 'Peking' still the correct way to refer to the city in China?
While the city is officially called Beijing today, the name 'Peking' is still standard when referring to the famous roasted duck dish. It’s a linguistic holdover that has remained popular in the culinary world even after the city's official English spelling changed.
What makes 'Sitting Duck' a common phrase?
It comes from hunting. A duck that is sitting on the water is much easier to hit than one that is flying. In daily conversation, we use it to describe anyone who is in a vulnerable position and easy to attack or criticize.
Are there other 'Ducks' that could have fit this puzzle?
Absolutely. Clues like 'Daffy' (the Looney Tunes character), 'Bombay' (the dried fish dish), or 'Mighty' (from the movie The Mighty Ducks) would have also worked perfectly for this theme.
How does LinkedIn choose the order of these clues?
Usually, they start with the most ambiguous or difficult clues and move toward the most obvious ones. 'Lame' can mean many things, but 'Donald' is almost always associated with the famous duck, which is why it's typically the final clue.