Solve today’s Minute Cryptic with our step-by-step breakdown.
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.
Hints For Today’s Minute Cryptic Clue (October 12, 2026)
Today’s clue is ‘Odds of guys accepting defeat in a photo finish? (6)‘.
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.
What Is The Indicator?
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.
This clue’s indicators are ‘Odds of‘ and ‘accepting‘. One is a selection indicator, directing us to pick specific letters from nearby fodder. The other is a containing indicator, telling us to tuck one piece of fodder inside another.
What Is The Fodder?
We’ve identified what the clue wants you to do, now it’s time to figure out what you’re supposed to do it to. This points you toward the exact fodder you need.
This clue’s fodder is ‘guys‘ and ‘defeat‘.
What Is The Definition?
Need a little help figuring out the definition? We’ve got you covered! This part of the clue points you toward the meaning of the answer.
Our definition is ‘a photo finish?‘ The question mark hints that we should think a little more laterally about what a photo finish could mean.
Answer Hints
This hint gets you considerably closer to today’s answer without dropping the whole thing in your lap, so you can still enjoy that little ohhhh moment when everything clicks.
What do you get when the odd letters of “guys” take a loss?
Today’s Clue Answer, Explained (October 12, 2026)
If the clue has completely defeated you, we reveal the answer and explain exactly how it all comes together below.
Expand the spoiler below for the answer and a breakdown of how the definition, fodder, and indicator all come together.
“Odds of guys” is the selection indicator and fodder, telling us to take the odd letters of GUYS, which gives us G and Y.
“Accepting” is the containing indicator, telling us to place some letters inside G and Y.
“Defeat” is the fodder, but we need a synonym for it rather than using the word itself. LOSS works as a synonym for defeat.
Putting LOSS inside G and Y gives us GLOSSY.
The definition, “a photo finish?,” refers to something glossy, like a glossy photograph.
