LinkedIn CrossClimb #665 Solutions: Tail, Toil, Coil, Coin, Chin

LinkedIn's daily CrossClimb puzzle #665 for February 24, 2026, challenges you to build a word ladder from five clues. Each word changes exactly one letter from the previous, forming a chain of valid 4-letter English words. After arranging the middle rung words, solve the compound clue for the top and bottom words. Here's the complete CrossClimb solution with detailed reasoning.

How CrossClimb Works

In CrossClimb, first solve five clue words in phase 1. Phase 2 requires dragging them into a ladder where adjacent words differ by one letter. Phase 3 uses a compound clue to fill the top and bottom, maintaining the one-letter rule. All words share the same length here: 4 letters.

Step-by-Step Clue Solutions

1. Hint 1: Body part that a Manx cat may lack at its rear
   **Answer: TAIL**
   A Manx cat is a tailless breed, so TAIL fits perfectly as the rear body part it lacks. Straightforward animal fact ties to the clue.
2. Hint 2: Work really hard at something
   **Answer: TOIL**
   "Toil" means laborious work, like sweating over a task. Common synonym for grueling effort.
3. Hint 3: Wind up into a spiral, like a garden hose
   **Answer: COIL**
   To coil is to twist into loops, exactly like coiling a hose. Visual action word matches the description.
4. Hint 4: Piece of currency made out of metal
   **Answer: COIN**
   A coin is a metal money piece, from pennies to quarters. Direct fit for metallic currency.
5. Hint 5: Part of the face where a beard grows
   **Answer: CHIN**
   The chin is the facial spot for beards, especially goatees. Anatomy clue points here.

Arranging the Word Ladder

Now rearrange: **TAIL → TOIL → COIL → COIN → CHIN**. Verify one-letter changes:

• TAIL → TOIL (A→O)
• TOIL → COIL (T→C)
• COIL → COIN (L→N)
• COIN → CHIN (O→H)

This perfect ladder unlocks phase 3.

Compound Question Solution

Clue: Two words, one that can describe someone’s height and another that can describe their weight.

Top: **TALL** (height descriptor, changes from TAIL: I→A, A→L).
Bottom: **THIN** (weight descriptor, changes from CHIN: C→T).

These body descriptors pair logically, like "tall and thin." Full ladder: TALL → TAIL → TOIL → COIL → COIN → CHIN → THIN.

Tips for Future CrossClimb Puzzles

• Solve obvious clues first (e.g., TAIL, COIN).
• Test one-letter swaps: Vowels often shift (A→O in TAIL→TOIL).
• Work from solved words outward.
• Compound clues link thematically (height/weight here).

Bookmark for daily LinkedIn CrossClimb answers. Try Queens, Pinpoint next!