Crossclimb 890 Answer & Solution Guide
Answer: MARK DOWN
Puzzle Overview
Crossclimb 890 starts with MARK and ends with DOWN. The theme clue asks for a two-word phrase meaning to discount a product for sale, which gives mark down.
The five middle answers are BARK, BARN, BORN, MORN, and MOWN. Each neighboring pair changes exactly one letter, moving cleanly from the starting word to the bottom word.
Complete Word Ladder
| Position | Word | Clue or Role | Letter Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | MARK | First half of the theme answer | Starting word |
| 1 | BARK | Sound that might follow baby talk to a good dog | M -> B |
| 2 | BARN | Where a calf may be raised on a farm | K -> N |
| 3 | BORN | Brought into the world | A -> O |
| 4 | MORN | Early part of the day, poetically | B -> M |
| 5 | MOWN | Like a well-trimmed yard | R -> W |
| Bottom | DOWN | Second half of the theme answer | M -> D |
Player Solution Walkthrough
Step 1: Understanding the Puzzle
The top and bottom rows combine into MARK DOWN. As a verb phrase, to mark something down is to reduce its price, matching the discount clue.
Step 2: Starting from the Top
The playful dog clue points to BARK. It fits directly under MARK because only the first letter changes.
Step 3: Building the Middle
"Where a calf may be raised on a farm" gives BARN, which changes one letter from BARK. Then "Brought into the world" is BORN, a simple vowel change.
Step 4: Connecting to the Bottom
"Early part of the day, poetically" is MORN. From there, "Like a well-trimmed yard" gives MOWN, setting up the final change into DOWN.
Step 5: Final Answer
The complete ladder is MARK -> BARK -> BARN -> BORN -> MORN -> MOWN -> DOWN, revealing the answer MARK DOWN.
Word Reference
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MARK | A written sign, label, or indication; also the first word in the answer phrase. |
| BARK | The sound a dog makes. |
| BARN | A farm building used for animals, hay, or equipment. |
| BORN | Brought into life. |
| MORN | A poetic word for morning. |
| MOWN | Cut down, especially grass in a yard. |
| DOWN | Toward a lower place or amount; also the second word in the answer phrase. |
FAQ
Q1: What is the answer to Crossclimb 890?
The answer is MARK DOWN.
Q2: What is the complete word ladder?
The ladder is MARK -> BARK -> BARN -> BORN -> MORN -> MOWN -> DOWN.
Q3: How many middle answers are there?
There are five middle answers: BARK, BARN, BORN, MORN, and MOWN.
Q4: Why do MARK and DOWN make the final answer?
Together they form mark down, a phrase meaning to lower the price of an item for sale.
Q5: What is the trickiest clue?
MORN may be the trickiest because it is poetic or old-fashioned, while the other clues are more direct.
Q6: Why does MOWN come before DOWN?
MOWN and DOWN differ by one letter, so MOWN is the last middle rung before the bottom word.
Strategy Tips
- Combine the top and bottom words first to identify the likely phrase.
- Use obvious clue answers such as BARK and BORN as anchors.
- Watch for poetic words like MORN in short word ladders.
- Confirm every neighboring pair changes exactly one letter.