LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for August 21, 2025
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
August 21, 2025
Zester
Tongs
Mandolin
Funnel
Whisk
Clue Meanings Explained
Zester
A zester is a specialized hand tool used primarily for stripping the colorful, flavorful outer skin (the zest) from citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. It usually features a series of small, sharp-edged holes or a serrated blade that creates fine shreds without hitting the bitter white pith underneath.
Tongs
Tongs are a versatile gripping tool consisting of two arms joined at one end. They act as an extension of the hand, allowing a person to pick up, flip, or move items that are too hot, too cold, or too messy to touch directly. While used in many fields, they are a staple for flipping steaks or serving salad.
Mandolin
In this context, a mandolin (often spelled mandoline in culinary circles) is a flat-surfaced slicing tool. It features an adjustable, extremely sharp blade that allows a user to slide vegetables or fruits across it to create perfectly uniform slices, julienne cuts, or crinkle cuts much faster than a standard knife could.
Funnel
A funnel is a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening. It’s the ultimate "anti-mess" tool, ensuring that ingredients get exactly where they need to go without spilling over the sides of a jar or bottle.
Whisk
A whisk is a tool made of a series of wire loops joined at a handle. It is designed to blend ingredients smoothly or to incorporate air into a mixture—a process known as aerating. It’s the go-to gadget for everything from scrambling eggs to whipping heavy cream into peaks.
Welcome to another deep dive into the daily LinkedIn Pinpoint puzzle. As an analyst who looks at these games through a lens of linguistics and logic, I find today’s set particularly interesting because it bridges the gap between specialized professional equipment and everyday household items. It’s a classic example of how Pinpoint tests your ability to find a "categorical umbrella" for objects that vary in shape and specific function but share a singular home. Today’s puzzle wasn't just about identifying the items; it was about recognizing their collective utility in a specific workspace. Let’s break down the clues and the mental journey required to land on the correct answer.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, "Zester," popped up, my mind immediately went to bartending or baking. I thought the category might be "Citrus Fruits" or perhaps "Garnishing Tools." It was a very specific starting point, which is often a trap in Pinpoint. You want to think broad, but a zester feels very niche. I almost guessed "Lemon accessories," but I held back to see the next hint.
When "Tongs" appeared, I had to pivot. Tongs aren't really used for garnishing in the same way a zester is. My second thought was "Barbecue Equipment." You use tongs to flip meat, and maybe you use a zester for a marinade? It felt like a plausible connection, but "Tongs" is such a universal word that it could apply to a laboratory or even a fireplace. I decided to wait for the third clue to see if we were staying in the kitchen or moving to a different workshop.
The third clue, "Mandolin," was the absolute "Aha!" moment. Now, if you aren't a fan of cooking, you might have thought of the musical instrument first. But looking at "Zester" and "Tongs," a musical instrument made no sense. The mandoline slicer is a very specific piece of kitchen gear. At this point, I knew we were looking for a category related to food preparation. I considered "Chef's Tools" or "Kitchen Gadgets."
By the time "Funnel" and "Whisk" showed up, the pattern was undeniable. These are all manual, hand-held instruments used to manipulate food. They aren't "Appliances" because they don't plug into a wall, and they aren't "Cutlery" because you don't typically eat with them.
The final logic check was simple: what is the common name for these items found in a kitchen drawer? "Kitchen utensils" or "Cooking tools" fit perfectly. I felt confident that the game was looking for the general classification of these manual food-prep items.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
* Beware of Homonyms: The word "Mandolin" is a classic Pinpoint pivot. It can be a stringed instrument or a vegetable slicer. Always look at the preceding clues to determine which definition the puzzle is using. If the other clues were "Banjo" and "Lute," we’d be in a music shop.
* Identify the Workspace: Most Pinpoint puzzles revolve around a specific environment. Once you have three clues, ask yourself: "In what room of a house or building would I find all of these things at once?" Today, that room was clearly the kitchen.
* Look for Manual vs. Electric: It’s helpful to notice if the items share a power source. Today’s clues were all manual hand tools. This helps narrow the answer down from "Kitchen Appliances" (which would be blenders or toasters) to "Utensils" or "Tools."
* Don't Guess Too Early on Niche Clues: A "Zester" is very specific, but the category was very broad. If you guess a category that is too narrow (like "Citrus tools"), you might lose your streak. Wait for the second or third clue to see the "width" of the category.