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Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?" (4)

Minute Cryptic clue · September 14, 2026 · answer and full explanation
By Ahmed Hassan
Answer verified against the live puzzle

The Minute Cryptic clue “Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?"” (4) was set for Monday, September 14, 2026. Below is the answer — blurred until you tap — followed by the definition, the wordplay and why the letters land where they do.

Minute Cryptic · September 14, 2026

Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?"

(4)

The answer isPAST

No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.

Letters 4Set by Sean Rich (community)Par 2Solvers 18,568

The clue, colour-coded

Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?"
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words

How this clue works

The definition

What's happened

Our definition here is 'What's happened', and our answer will be a word for that.

The wordplay

Dad + spat

This clue's fodder is 'Dad' and 'spat'. We'll need to find a short synonym for one of these and use it with the letters of the other to reach our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

The answer

PAST

The clue reads “Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?"” (4). The definition part — “What's happened” — points straight at PAST, and the rest of the clue builds it through wordplay.

Minute Cryptic publishes a short walkthrough for this clue — watch Sean Rich’s own explanation →

What PAST means

/pɑːst/verb / noun / adjective / adverb / preposition
verb

To change place.

verb

To change in state or status

noun

The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.

“a book about a time machine that can transport people back into the past”
noun

(grammar) The past tense.

Synonyms

spend, pledge, promise, vow, take heed, take notice, foretime, yestertide

This clue’s puzzle day

This clue was the Minute Cryptic for Monday, September 14, 2026. Open the September 14, 2026 puzzle page for that day’s write-up, or browse the full Minute Cryptic archive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the answer to “Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?"”?
The answer is PAST (4 letters). Tap the reveal button above to see it in the answer card.
How do I read a cryptic clue like this?
Every cryptic clue has two halves: a straight definition (at the start or the end) and a piece of wordplay that builds the same word letter by letter. Find the definition first, count the letters from the enumeration, then work out which trick the rest of the clue is playing.
Is there a new Minute Cryptic every day?
Yes — one cryptic clue a day at minutecryptic.com, plus community-set clues. We publish each day’s answer and breakdown here shortly after it goes live.