on the gripping hand

   In the progression that starts "On the one hand..." and continues "On
   the  other hand..." mainstream English may add "on the third hand..."
   even  though most people don't have three hands. Among hackers, it is
   just  as  likely to be "on the gripping hand". This metaphor supplied
   the  title  of  Larry  Niven  &  Jerry Pournelle's 1993 SF novel "The
   Gripping  Hand" which involved a species of hostile aliens with three
   arms  (the  same species, in fact, referenced in {juggling eggs}). As
   with  {TANSTAAFL} and {con}, this usage became one of the naturalized
   imports from SF fandom frequently observed among hackers.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {juggling eggs}]