def kwfunc(**kwargs): print kwargs.items() def argsfunc(*args): print args def no_apply(*args, **kwargs): print args print kwargs.items() argsfunc(34) foo = argsfunc(*args) argsfunc(*args) argsfunc(34, *args) kwfunc(**kwargs) kwfunc(x=11, **kwargs) no_apply(*args, **kwargs) no_apply(34, *args, **kwargs) no_apply(x=11, *args, **kwargs) no_apply(34, x=11, *args, **kwargs) no_apply(42, 34, x=11, *args, **kwargs) no_apply(1, 2, 4, 8, a=2, b=3, c=5)