I am not allowed to do >>> t = (1, *(2, 3)) But I am allowed to do >>> def ts(*t): ... return t ... >>> ts(1, *(2, 3)) (1, 2, 3) I realize I can do >>> (1,) + (2,3) (1, 2, 3) What is the rationale behind not having t = (1, *(2, 3)) have the same semantics as the "ts" case above?