Today's Minute Cryptic is here to put your wordplay skills to the test. These clues might look like ordinary sentences at first glance, but there's usually plenty going on beneath the surface. If you're staring at today's clue wondering how on earth you're supposed to get from the wording to an answer, don't worry. We've got you covered.

This guide breaks the clue down piece by piece, explaining the definition, fodder, and indicators and how they work together. If you're still stuck, you'll also find an extra hint to nudge you in the right direction before we reveal the full answer and explain exactly how everything comes together.

Looking for the October 22, 2026 Minute Cryptic? Find that here.

Today's clue is 'Butterflies, beginning to break free from many cocoons, exit after metamorphosis (7)'.

Below, we'll break down everything you need to solve it, from the Indicator, Fodder, and Definition to an extra hint if you're still stuck.

Instead of giving away the answer immediately, let this section do a little cryptic detective work first. Take a peek below if you want a nudge toward what the clue is asking you to do.

The clue’s indicators are ‘ beginning ’, ‘ to break free from ’, ‘ cocoons ’, and ‘ after metamorphosis ’. One is an anagram indicator, suggesting that neighboring letters need to be rearranged. Another is a containment indicator, telling us to place some fodder inside other fodder. There’s also a selection indicator, which identifies a specific letter within neighboring fodder, and a deletion indicator, signaling that certain fodder needs to be removed.

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