LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for August 24, 2025
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
August 24, 2025
Fed
Land
Stain
Roots
Hopper
Clue Meanings Explained
Fed
This is the past tense of the verb "feed," meaning to have provided food or nourishment. In a different context, it’s also common slang for a federal agent or the Federal Reserve, which often tricks players into thinking about government or finance right out of the gate.
Land
This refers to the solid part of the earth's surface that isn't covered by water. It can also be a verb meaning to arrive or touch down (like a plane), or it can refer to a specific territory or country.
Stain
A "stain" is a mark or discoloration that is typically hard to remove, often caused by a liquid or a substance being ground into a fabric or surface. It’s also used metaphorically to describe a mark on someone's reputation.
Roots
These are the parts of a plant that grow underground, absorbing water and minerals while anchoring the plant in place. In a social sense, it refers to a person's origins or the core of a movement.
Hopper
This describes something that moves by jumping or "hopping." It can also refer to a large, funnel-shaped container used to move loose materials like grain or coal into a machine or vehicle.
Hey there! If you jumped into today's LinkedIn Pinpoint and found yourself staring at the screen for a few minutes, you’re definitely not alone. Today’s puzzle was a classic example of how the game uses very common words to lead you down a dozen different paths before the "aha!" moment finally hits. As an analyst of these puzzles, I love how this specific set transitioned from abstract concepts to a very concrete biological and environmental theme. Let’s break down the clues and see how the logic fits together.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, Fed, popped up, my mind went straight to politics or crime. I was thinking "Federal," "Well-fed," or maybe even "Spoon-fed." It’s such a short, versatile word that it’s almost impossible to guess the theme based on it alone. I initially thought the category might be "Types of Government Employees" or maybe "Ways to Eat."
Then came Land. Now I’m looking for a connection between "Fed" and "Land." I briefly considered "Homeland" (Homeland Security / Home-fed?), but that didn't feel right. Maybe the theme was "Federal"? Federal Land? That seemed plausible, but it felt a bit too dry for a daily puzzle. I decided to wait for the third clue before making a serious guess.
The third clue, Stain, was the real curveball. "Fed-stain" and "Land-stain" don't make any sense. This is where I had to pivot. I started looking at the words as suffixes. What word can come before all of these? I tried "Blood" (Bloodstain, Blood-fed), but "Bloodland" isn't a common term. I tried "Water" (Waterland, Water stain), but "Water-fed" is rare.
It wasn't until Roots appeared that the lightbulb finally flickered on. "Grassroots" is such a powerful, common compound word. I immediately tested it against the others. Grass-fed beef? Check. Grassland? Check. Grass stain? Every parent knows those.
By the time Hopper appeared, it was a total victory lap. A grasshopper is one of the most recognizable insects out there. The connection was seamless. All five clues aren't just related by a theme; they are all nouns or verbs that perfectly follow the word "grass" to create entirely new concepts, ranging from biology and agriculture to laundry day frustrations.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
* Beware of the "Government" Trap: Short words like "Fed" or "Land" often make us think of bureaucracy or geography first. Always keep a secondary "nature" or "household" category in mind when the first few clues feel too formal.
* The "Compound Word" Strategy: When clues seem totally unrelated (like a bug, a political movement, and a laundry problem), they are almost always linked by a common prefix or suffix. If you can't find a synonym link, start testing common words like "water," "fire," "sun," or "grass" in front of them.
* Wait for the Fourth Clue: In many Pinpoint puzzles, the first three clues are intentionally vague to narrow the field, but the fourth clue is usually the "anchor" that provides the most specific context. "Roots" was the anchor today.
* Hyphens and Spaces Don't Matter: In Pinpoint, the connection can be a single word (Grasshopper), a hyphenated word (Grass-fed), or two separate words (Grass stain). Don't let the formatting of the result discourage you from a potential answer.
Expert Q&A
Why is "Fed" used as a clue for "Grass" when most people think of the government?
The game designers love using "contractions" or words with multiple meanings to misdirect you. While "Fed" often refers to federal agents, "Grass-fed" is a massive industry term in agriculture and food, making it a clever, albeit difficult, starting point.
Could the answer have been "Types of Plants"?
Not quite. While "Roots" and "Land" could relate to plants generally, "Stain" and "Hopper" are specific results of or types of things associated with grass specifically. The goal of Pinpoint is to find the most specific common denominator.
Is "Grassroots" one word or two?
It is typically written as one word when referring to a political or social movement. In the context of this puzzle, the game looks for the shared word "Grass," regardless of whether the resulting compound is closed, hyphenated, or open.
What makes "Hopper" a strong closing clue?
"Hopper" is very specific. While many things "land" or have "roots," very few things are commonly called a "hopper" besides the insect. It serves as the final confirmation for players who might still