Not a general-purpose, but will solve your case:
(apply 'format "%s %s %s" (make-list 3 'a)) (apply 'format "%s %s %s" (make-list 3 'a)) Using provided example:
(apply 'format (concat " * - :raw-html:`<img width=\"100%%\" " "src=\"http://xxx.xxx/images/languages/" "staff/%s.jpg\" alt=\"%s.jpg\"/>` - .. _%s:") (make-list 3 'some-image)) gives:
(apply 'format (concat " * - :raw-html:`<img width=\"100%%\" " width=\"100%\" "src=\"httpsrc=\"http://xxx.xxx/images/languages/" "staffstaff/%ssome-image.jpg\" alt=\"%salt=\"some-image.jpg\"/>` - .. _%s:") (make-list 3 'some_some-image)):" gives:
" * - :raw-html:`<img width=\"100%\" src=\"http://xxx.xxx/images/languages/staff/some-image.jpg\" alt=\"some-image.jpg\"/>` - .. _some-image:"
