iceberg

the tip of the iceberg

a small part of a problem or a difficult situation which is really much larger than it seems. What you saw last night was just the tip of the iceberg. The difficulties we've discussed are only the tip of the iceberg.

See also: tip

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just the tip of the iceberg

a small part of something much larger. This technology is the tip of the iceberg, the very beginning of modern telecommunications. The list of thefts goes on and on, and the examples you have read about are just the tip of the iceberg.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the tip of the iceberg (= the small part of a large mass of ice floating in the sea that can be seen above water)

See also: just, tip