LinkedIn Pinpoint #843 answer

🎯 Pinpoint 843 Answer & Analysis — August 21, 2026

Quick Solve Card

Answer: Things you might “shoot”
Difficulty: Medium, 3/5
Pattern type: Shared verb action
Spoiler-free hint: Consider a common verb for all actions.
Turning clue: "Oneself in the foot" and "Fish in a barrel" confirmed the idiomatic use of "shoot."

Why This Answer Fits

This puzzle cleverly uses the versatile verb "shoot," encompassing both its literal and various idiomatic meanings. Each clue represents something that can be associated with "shoot," either as a direct action or as part of a well-known phrase. The initial clues hint at direct actions, while later clues solidify the pattern by introducing common idioms where "shoot" is integral.

Clue Breakdown

Clue	Fits as	Why it confirms the answer
A video	Direct action	You "shoot" a video to record footage.
A glance	Idiomatic phrase	To "shoot a glance" means to look quickly.
The messenger	Idiomatic phrase	To "shoot the messenger" means to blame the bearer of bad news.
Fish in a barrel	Idiomatic phrase	"Like shooting fish in a barrel" describes something extremely easy.
Oneself in the foot	Idiomatic phrase	To "shoot oneself in the foot" means to inadvertently harm one's own interests.

Why Not Another Answer?

Things related to cameras or photography: While "a video" fits this, clues like "fish in a barrel" and "oneself in the foot" have no direct connection to photographic equipment or processes, making this path too narrow.
Objects that fire projectiles: "A video" and "a glance" are not objects that fire projectiles, and the idiomatic clues further disconnect from this literal interpretation, as they don't involve physical shooting.

Solving Takeaway

When a puzzle presents a mix of concrete nouns/actions and abstract or idiomatic phrases, always consider verbs with broad literal and figurative meanings. Common verbs like "shoot," "take," "make," or "break" often hide these dual interpretations, serving as a powerful unifying concept.

FAQ

Q1: Why does Pinpoint mix literal actions with idioms? This approach tests a solver's understanding of language's flexibility. By including both direct and figurative uses of a word, the puzzle encourages deeper linguistic analysis beyond initial surface-level connections.

Q2: What's the origin of the idiom "shoot the messenger"? The phrase "shoot the messenger" is ancient, with roots in classical antiquity. It reflects the common human tendency to react with anger or frustration towards the person delivering bad news, rather than addressing the source of the news itself.

Clues

Analysis