tip of the iceberg

Cultural  

1. Only a hint or suggestion of a much larger or more complex issue or problem: “The money missing from petty cash was only the tip of the iceberg of financial mismanagement.” This phrase alludes to the fact that the bulk of a floating iceberg is concealed beneath the water, leaving only a small portion, its tip, visible above.

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tip of the iceberg Idioms  

1. Superficial evidence of a much larger problem, as in Laying off a hundred workers is only the tip of the iceberg. This idiom alludes to the structure of an iceberg, most of whose bulk lies underwater. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

“I think this is the tip of the iceberg; you could easily double or triple the number of university retirement communities.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The twist is the headline-generator, sure, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

But that is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of prices at the World Cup.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Their battle for gold at the Milano Ice Skating Arena is just the tip of the iceberg during a year which included the fallout of a book written by Cizeron's former partner Gabriella Papadakis.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The rat she brought to school was only the tip of the iceberg.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• cursory
• frivolous
• one-dimensional
• perfunctory
• silly
• sketchy
• slight
• trivial