iceberg

tip of the iceberg

Fig. only the part of something that can be easily observed, but not the rest of it, which is hidden. (Referring to the fact that the majority of an iceberg is below the surface of the water.) The problems that you see here now are just the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous disasters waiting to happen.

See also: tip

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the tip of the iceberg

a small part of a problem or a difficult situation which is really much larger than it seems

Usage notes: An iceberg is a very large mass of ice that floats in the sea and often it is only possible to see a small part of it.

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