NY Times Crossword
January 2, 2014
Todd Gross (adapted)

The clues below can be answered according to a certain pattern. Once you see the pattern, it will be easy. But what's the pattern?

RULESB
FENCESM
MACHINESV
LITIGATIONP
FORONESELFF

Answer:

Each clue is a common word or phrase - followed by a single letter - which "ends" it. That final letter should be parsed as " _ending" and moved to the front to get a common phrase:

BENDING RULES
MENDING FENCES
VENDING MACHINES
PENDING LITIGATION
FENDING FOR ONESELF