on the gripping hand

9.9

To add an important opposite point to consider

idiom

: por otro lado

On the one hand, the job offers great benefits; on the gripping hand, the hours are terrible.

Examples

We've considered the advantages and disadvantages, but on the gripping hand, there's still the issue of cost.
You could stay in your hometown; on the gripping hand, moving to a big city might be exciting.
I could drive or take the train; on the gripping hand, staying home might be best.
She might accept the offer, or she could decline; on the gripping hand, she hasn't replied at all.
I could take the bus and save some money; on the gripping hand, walking might be healthier.
He loves playing the guitar; on the gripping hand, he has no time to practice.
Studying abroad could enhance her resume; on the gripping hand, it might be expensive.

Surface Forms

on the gripping hand positive

Morphology

on + the + gripping + hand

This expression follows the familiar compositional pattern 'on the ... hand' that signals a contrasting viewpoint, and a learner who knows 'gripping' (captivating) plus 'hand' (side/viewpoint) can infer it points to a particularly striking opposing point. However, the phrase is a creative/infrequent variant and its exact discourse function and idiomatic nuance are not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The expression on the gripping hand is a playful twist on 'on the other hand'. The picture of a second hand gripping something tightly helps you remember that it introduces a contrasting or alternative point of view.