Crossclimb #551 Answer – November 2, 2025
SKINALOE
Answer
SKINALOE
Solution: This refers to bypassing something, like skipping an intro in a show.
Solution: This describes losing your balance, often due to icy conditions.
Solution: A term used in gymnastics for a somersault maneuver.
Solution: This is what you call a painful dive that results in a big splash.
Solution: A large sheet of floating ice, often found in polar regions.
Combo Clue
“Two words, one of which is the part of the body that a dermatologist examines, and the other a soothing gel from a plant often used on it.”
📖 How I Solved It
I had a bit of a struggle with the combo clue on this one. The part about the dermatologist examining the body was a no-brainer—'skin' popped into my head right away. But then I got stuck trying to think of soothing gels and kept mixing it up with random lotion brands. I even wrote down 'calamine' before realizing that wasn't what I needed. It took a minute to remember 'aloe', which finally clicked when I started thinking about sunburn relief. The word ladder was a fun twist, though! I breezed through 'skin' and 'skip', but I had a mental block on 'flop' for some reason. Once I finally got it, I felt like I was on fire, flying through the rest. Glad I pushed through the confusion, though!
💡 Tips for This Puzzle
- •Focus on the combo clue first to anchor your thinking.
- •Try to visualize the connections in the word ladder instead of just reading them.
- •Don't hesitate to jot down wrong guesses—they can lead you to the right answers!