The Gold of the 20th/21st of August, 2010
16 across: Virgin precaution [that's how it reads] linked to degree in weight? (7)
Great definition: that's how it reads linked to degree in weight = SIC linked to BA in KG = SICKBAG = Virgin precaution.
21 down: Copied clothing? May initially be charged in Gen-Y vein (5)
I liked the slang, but even more so I liked the punctuation that led me astray: copied clothing? may initially = APED clothing M = AMPED = be charged in Gen-Y vein.
2 down: Brilliant 24-across (portmanteau) unchanged by pest extermination (11)
Freakin' genius: portmanteau unchanged by pest extermination = FANTABULOUS (fantabulous - ant = fabulous = fantabulous) = brilliant.
27 across: Hippie's advice to enjoy number? (5)
I spent a while thinking DA was being tricky and meant number in the sense of something that numbs. I should have concentrated on the simpler option from the start, which also turns out to be amusing: hippie's advice to enjoy = DIG IT = DIGIT = number.
17 down: Rumpus room using Titanic 24-across (portmanteau) (9)
Just when you might have thought you've read all possible anagram indicators, out comes DA with the inspired rumpus. Like this: rumpus room using = GINORMOUS = Titanic portmanteau.
19 down: Faux pas cryptically close to dropping a beer (7)
Features one of those delightful tricks that is almost impossible to work out before the answer becomes apparent: faux pas cryptically close to dropping a = SLIP UP cryptically NEAR dropping A = PILS NER = PILSNER = beer.
DA Gold from 2/3rd of July, 2010
8 down: Celebrated red jelly after race meet (7)
Great direct definition disguise: jelly after race meet = ky after trots = Trotsky = celebrated red.
14 across: Clue not unravelled by breakfast patriarch (5, 4)
Another great direct clue: clue not unrivalled = uncleto by = Uncle Toby = breakfast patriarch.
13 across: Lite 18-down (in reach)? (5)
Another great one: lite = lo cal = local = in reach.
25 across: Black dog with frequent flyer points? (9)
A little easy, but good: black dog = jet setter = jetsetter = with frequent flyer points.
19 down: Where you may plunge into philosophical objective? (4, 3)
Clever: where you may plunge into = deep end = philosophical objective.
23 across: Bully boxes to be close, almost, to actor (5, 4)
bully boxes to be close, almost = cow boxes live end almost = Clive Owen = actor.
17 across: Giant dozer transport to glisten first off? (3, 6)
Nice one: transport to glisten first off = van twinkle first off = Van Winkle = giant dozer.
DA Gold for the 14/15th of May, 2010
11 across: Heat of battle sees legend annihilate army base (6)
Super surface reading: battle sees legend annihilate army base = war sees myth annihilate y = war myth - y = warmth = heat.
12 across: Male companions pejoratively help kid's reservation (8)
I love a good piece of slang, and this comes with two: help kid's reservation = hand bags = handbags = male companions.
16 down: I help stars quash essentially taboo triangle (9)
Anything with maths gets my vote: I help stars quash essentially taboo = I sos celebs quash b = isosceles = triangle.
26 across: A watchful rear in men-only prison (6)
Hilarious surface reading: a watchful rear in men-only = a l in stag = stalag = prison.
The Gold from the 7/8th of May
17 down: Yes, one may blow this dough! (4, 5)
A very neat partial &lit: yes, one may blow = easy money = yes, one may blow this dough.
28, 24 across: Contrary source described old admirer's locale? (5, 4)
Very much enjoyed the definition: contrary source described old = contrary roots described aged = stoor described aged = stage door = admirer's locale.
3 down: Rings assistant for battery chicken's second marvel (3, 3, 3)
Very much enjoyed the answer even if, as I've just come to realise, I don't have a complete explanation for the aah part of marvel = ooh and aah.
Can anyone help me on this one?
DA Gold (from the 30th April/1st of May)
Yes, it's back:
23 across: Pennant regulars keeping fit? Vice versa (9)
Clever: pennant regulars keeping fit? Vice versa = enn keeping belong vice versa = belong keeping enn = bennelong = theme.
25 across: Likely leader to come second (6)
A delight to the clue's words all snug in the same semantic range: likely leader to come second = odds on leader to come second = Dodson = theme.
4 down: Mouth, say, true to form (7)
Wonderfully-well-hidden anagram: say, true to form = estuary = mouth.
7 down: Some pang in atrium! (6)
I'll nearly always include &lits in DA Gold: some pang in atrium! = some pang in atrium! = angina = some pang in atrium!.
22 down: Ringmaster makes bet about no ring vanishing? (6)
Excellent reference to the composer: makes bet about no ring vanishing? = wager about no o vanishing = wagnoer - o = Wagner = ringmaster.
21 down: A crossword legend in love, cherished Old England (6)
I loved the reference to a legend of the trade: a crossword legend in love cherished = a LB in o cherished = Albion = Old England.
26 across: 20-across's (Mark Ella) sister Pat? (8)
Freakin' brilliant, the pick of the bunch: Mark Ella's sister Pat? = Pat Ella = Kneebone = theme.
The Gold on the 19/20th of March, 2010
3 down: Pet mules seen on beach (6, 9)
Classic: pet mules = budgie smugglers = seen on beach.
19 down: Southern nation I left quietly in drag (7)
The more Yiddish the better I say: Southern nation I left quietly = s Chile - i pp = schlepp = drag.
20 down: Professional hits upbeat times? Not first of all (7)
Exceptionally well-hidden direct clue: upbeat times not first of all = up drum eras not a = murd eras - a = murders = professional hits.
11 across: A case of 'That's it, Ernesto!?' (7)
How much of Che Guevara's fame can be put down to his name's use in cryptics? Great clue: that's it, Ernesto! = atta (think 'atta boy') Che = attache = a case.
22 down: Mercury in rock shelf finally prepared in report (7)
A fundamentally fair clue that is so cleverly constructed that it's rather difficult to decipher: shelf finally prepared in report = f ready in report = Freddie = Mercury in rock.
DA Gold from the 12/13th of March
14 across: Career shift nearly converted to chase rainbows? (3-4)
Excellent direct clue: career shift nearly converted = fly fisht nearly = fly fish = to chase rainbows.
19 across: Rose dominating? Ring 501-150 (6)
Excellent placement of the question mark: Ring 501-150 = L I one L = Lionel = Rose dominating ring.
20 across: Tiny blonde bombshell whose quintet was celebrated (4, 6)
Another brilliant direct clue: tiny blonde bombshell = Enid Blyton = whose quintet was celebrated.
5 down: Feller for Spooner's rational task (8)
Spooner's are always fun. This one is no exception: Spooner's rational task = Spooner's sane chore = chainsaw = feller.
23 across: Sharply returned rose-wreathed cake (8)
Fantastic: rose-wreathed cake = red wreathed torte = retorted = sharply returned.
15 down: _ETTLE T__ BI__? (5, 3)
Just genius: the missing letters are shell, so shell out = settle the bill = _ettle t__ bi__.
16 across: Flashier subhead by show-off? (7)
A risque piece of DA magic: subhead by show-off = s by wanker = swanker = flashier.
The Golden from the Chocolate Coated – 1st Crossword of Feb, 2010
22 down: HEA_E? (5)
An outstanding DA special in a very specially themed crossword: hea_e = heave - v = v omit = vomit = heave.
4 down: Sweet athlete ad company thrice exploited (9-6)
A joy: athlete ad company thrice exploited = athlete ad co co co exploited = chocolate-coated = sweet.
Two gold nuggets seems like too few for such a brilliant crossword, but the clues alone are not as great as one would assume. It seems that the theme really drove this crossword upwards into new heights rather than the clues themselves.
Feel free to beg to differ.
The Golden Ones from DA’s Last of January, 2010
26 across: Harmonious threesomes finally flee such impatient coeds (9)
Brilliant trickery that must have taken a long time to think up: threesomes finally flee such impatient coeds = such - uch + impatient - ent + coeds - eds = simpatico = harmonious.
15 down: Meet single clue -- not this type (3, 6)
Despite some protestations, I still reckon this one's a goodie: single clue -- not this type = run across (clue is down, not across) = run across = meet.
22 across: Retired killer gets yonks, strangling flash braggart (9)
Mo seems to be DA favourite of late: retired killer gets yonks strangling flash = retired cain age strangling mo = retired cainamoge = egomaniac = braggart.
21 down: Vaults hoisted by one charter plane (3-4)
Very clever indeed: vaults hoisted by one = atria hoisted x 1 = air-taxi = charter plane.
14 down: ... against ex-follower (9)
Such terse elegance: against ex = con former = conformer = follower.
3 down: Stalks onstage, it's said? (7)
I was too busy thinking of homophones to get this one: onstage it's said = rhubarb (what actors say on stage to mimic the sound of indistinct background conversation) = stalks.
12 across: Exercise Bureau regularly provides flirtatious apparel (4-2, 3)
A welcome return to the racier side of DA's oeuvre: exercise bureau regularly = push-up bureau = push-up bra = flirtatious apparel.
Golden Clues from DA’s 4th of 2010
21 down: Refuse ball-girl by chance, almost (6)
Excellent way to refer to a name: ball-girl by chance, almost = deb by risk almost = debris = refuse.
3 down: A salesman catches my aircraft, not a military ride (4, 4)
A deliciouly difficult clue that employs one of DA's classic tricks: a salesman catches my aircraft not = a rep catches my jet no t = arep catchy myje = army jeep = a military ride.
25 across: Mighty river halved by eccentric explorer (2, 4)
Excellent sentence meaning: mighty river halved by eccentric = Amazon halved by dag = Da Gama = explorer.
6 down: Jumbo pilot wheeled meat away (6)
DA as the king of direct clues: wheeled meat away = wheeled ham out = mahout = Jumbo pilot.
12 across: Retrograde developer of modern cinema? (8, 6)
Clever cryptic definition: retrograde developer of modern cinema? = Benjamin Button.
10 across: Messiah admits sermonising, reaching out, aggravated stress (8)
Great clue that I also thought clunky at the same time: messiah admits sermonising, reaching out, aggravated = messiah admits preaching - reaching aggravated = messiah admits p aggravated = messiahp aggravated = emphasis = stress.
