The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word INKHORNS
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "liquid containers" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case liquid containers = inkhorns.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does INKHORNS mean?
INKHORNS noun- A small portable container, often made of horn, used to carry ink.
- (used attributively, of vocabulary) Pedantic, obscurely scholarly.