LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for December 11, 2025
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
December 11, 2025
Oil
Stair
Ink
Fare
Fair thee
Clue Meanings Explained
Oil
This refers to a viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, typically used as fuel, a lubricant, or for cooking. In a geological context, it is often extracted from deep underground.
Stair
This describes a single step in a flight of stairs or a series of steps used for going from one level to another in a building.
Ink
A colored liquid or paste used for writing, drawing, printing, or duplicating. Historically, it was kept in small containers for dipping pens.
Fare
This term refers to the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay. It can also mean to perform or get along in a specified way.
Fair thee
This is an archaic, poetic way of saying "go" or "travel." It is most famously used in the parting expression "fare thee well," though the clue uses a slight homophone variation or archaic phrasing.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When I first sat down to tackle this Pinpoint, the first clue "Oil" didn't give me much to go on. My mind immediately went to things like "Rig," "Slick," or even "Can." It’s such a broad term that you could take it in a dozen different directions. I actually considered "Refinery" for a second, but I knew I needed to wait for the second clue to find a common thread.
Once "Stair" popped up, the lightbulb started to flicker. I looked at "Oil" and "Stair" together. "Oilcase"? No. "Staircase"? Maybe. But "Oilwell" and "Stairwell" both clicked perfectly. At this point, I was about 80% sure the connection was the word "Well," but I wanted to see the third clue just to be certain before committing to the answer.
The third clue was "Ink," and that was the clincher. An "Inkwell" is a classic, old-school item that fits the pattern perfectly. It’s a very common compound word structure in these puzzles where a single word can be tacked onto the end of all the clues to create a new, valid term.
By the time "Fare" and "Fair thee" appeared, I was just enjoying the ride. "Farewell" is a standard word for goodbye, and "Fare thee well" is the more formal, old-fashioned version of that same sentiment. Even though the clue "Fair thee" used "Fair" instead of "Fare," the phonetic sound and the context of the phrase "Fare thee well" made the connection undeniable.
In the end, it was a classic case of identifying a suffix pattern. Once you see how "Oil," "Stair," and "Ink" all share that common "Well" ending, the rest of the puzzle falls into place like a set of dominos.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
Think in Compounds and Phrases: Many Pinpoint puzzles rely on finding a "bridge" word that can either precede or follow every clue. When you see a word like "Stair," immediately test common suffixes like "case," "way," or "well."
Don't Get Stuck on One Meaning: "Fare" can mean a price or "to get along." If you only thought of "Bus Fare," you might miss the connection to "Farewell." Always look for the alternative definitions of the clues provided.
Phonetic Flexibility: Sometimes the game uses clues that sound like parts of a phrase even if the spelling varies slightly in your head (like "Fair" vs "Fare"). Focus on the sound and the commonality of the expression.
Start Broad, Then Narrow: Use the first two clues to generate a list of 3-4 possible bridge words, then use the third clue to eliminate the ones that don't fit. This "elimination" method is much faster than guessing blindly.
Expert Q&A
Why does the game use "Fair thee" instead of "Fare"?
The game often uses phrases or slight variations to make the final clue more obvious. While "Farewell" is the standard spelling for the goodbye, "Fare thee well" is the full expression. Using "Fair" might be a play on the phonetic sound or a way to nudge you toward the archaic phrase.
Are all these words considered compound words?
Not exactly. "Stairwell" and "Inkwell" are standard compound words. "Oil well" is usually two words, and "Farewell" is a single word. Pinpoint looks for linguistic connections, not just strict grammatical compound structures.
What is the best strategy when the first two clues seem unrelated?
If "Oil" and "Stair" don't immediately connect for you, wait for clue three. The third clue is almost always the "pivot" point that clarifies the relationship between the first two outliers.
Can the bridge word come before the clues instead of after?
Absolutely. In this puzzle, the answer was words that come *before* 'well', but in other puzzles, the target word might be the prefix (e.g., 'Sun' coming before 'rise', 'set', and 'flower'). Always check both possibilities.
How common are archaic phrases like "Fare thee well" in Pinpoint?
Quite common. The game designers love using idioms, old-fashioned sayings, and cultural references to add a layer of difficulty beyond simple object names.