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

It overwhelmed me to think about all the possibilities of our world only being like the tip of the iceberg and all of creation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

These high-profile cases are only the tip of the iceberg.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

According to several former and current Wall Streeters, that rule is just the tip of the iceberg.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

“It’s the tip of the iceberg, it’s moving very quickly,” Dimon added, predicting that JPMorgan would hire more AI talent and fewer bankers in certain categories.

From Barron's • May 21, 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