Liverpool’s borders? - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Liverpool's borders?", is a fantastic example of a classic crossword misdirection. At first glance, you might start thinking about the geography of England, perhaps the River Mersey or neighboring counties. However, the question mark at the end is a crucial signal that we need to think outside the geographical box.

Clue Analysis

Let's break down this clever clue:

• "Liverpool's": This is the subject of the clue, but not the city itself. Instead, we should focus on the word "Liverpool".
• "borders?": This is the key piece of wordplay. The question mark confirms that "borders" is not meant literally. In crossword language, "borders," "edges," "sides," or "extremes" often refer to the first and last letters of a word.
• The Word: L-I-V-E-R-P-O-O-L.

The clue is asking for the letters that form the "borders" of the word "Liverpool".

Thinking Approaches

A seasoned solver will spot the question mark and immediately become suspicious. Here's a step-by-step process to deconstruct this type of clue:

1. Identify the Signal: The question mark is your best friend here. It screams, "Don't take me literally! This is wordplay."
2. Re-evaluate Key Terms: The word "borders" is the most likely candidate for a double meaning. If not geographical borders, what else could it mean? It could mean the edges or the outer limits of something.
3. Apply to the Subject: Apply this new interpretation to "Liverpool". What are the "borders" of the word "Liverpool"? The first letter is 'L' and the last letter is 'L'.
4. Formulate the Answer: The clue asks for "borders" (plural), so we need both letters. We have two 'L's. In crosswords, letters are often spelled out phonetically. The letter 'L' is spelled 'EL'. The plural of 'EL' is ELS. This fits a common three-letter answer pattern.

Background Context

This type of clue falls into a category of wordplay that involves manipulating the letters of a word given in the clue. Constructors use a variety of indicator words to signal this:

• "borders," "edges," "extremes": First and last letters (e.g., "Love's edges?" -> LS)
• "heart," "middle," "center": Middle letter(s) (e.g., "Team's heart?" -> EA)
• "head," "start," "opener": First letter (e.g., "Yankee's opener?" -> Y)
• "tail," "end," "finally": Last letter (e.g., "Finally win?" -> N)

Recognizing these patterns is a key skill in advancing from a novice to an intermediate solver. The actual subject, in this case the city of Liverpool, is purely a vessel for the wordplay.

Conclusion

"Liverpool's borders?" is a delightful bit of misdirection that rewards solvers for thinking laterally. By recognizing the question mark as a sign for wordplay and reinterpreting "borders" to mean the first and last letters of the word "Liverpool," we arrive at the two 'L's. Spelled out in plural form, this gives us the answer ELS. It's a perfect reminder to always read the clue carefully and question the obvious meaning.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The clue is not about geography; it's a play on words.
2. Hint 2: Focus on the literal letters that make up the word "Liverpool".
3. Hint 3: The clue is asking for the very first and very last letters of the word in the clue.
4. Hint 4: The answer is the plural, phonetic spelling of the letters that form the "borders" of "Liverpool".

The answer is ELS.