Sun Times 4267

[Thack]

Am really thick today!
17d He may be a fighter, but he hates the gore.
23a The highlight for a lookout
7d - is it cheroots? If so, why?

[Tichfield]

17d Maybe it's MATADOR.

I don't know because you have not said how long the answer is.

[rabster]

i presume it is toreador and cheroots but hard to explain
23a eyeliner is self explanatory

[JMR27]

I went for toreador (and I'm still trying to understand it...)
7d is cheroots - champion = hero inside cot (bed) + s (small)

[blueberry2]

I'd be interested in understanding why 17d is toreador. There is an entry from 2005 with the same clue, same answer and no analysis either.

[JMR27]

A toreador is a bullfighter on horseback. A gore, according to Chambers, can mean a triangular piece of cloth which, I presume a mounted bullfighter wouldn't carry....best I can come up with...

[JMR27]

meant to say that a gore/triangular piece of cloth might represent a cape

[blueberry2]

Interesting suggestion JMR but I'm still not sure. Will continue to puzzle over it. I just wonder whether a toreador doesn't fully participate in the actual killing of the bull, leaving that to the matador?

[Thack]

Thanks everyone - what a can of bullfighting worms we seem to have opened!

[davpat]

Might it just be that he hates the thought of being gored by the bull??

[JMR27]

hi davpat - I think you could well be right - I was reading far too much into it. Cheers j