tip of the iceberg

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.

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

"This natural pigment is what gives an octopus or a squid its ability to camouflage -- a fantastic superpower -- and our achievement to advance production of this material is just the tip of the iceberg."

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The recent layoff announcements could be the tip of the iceberg.

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Being a lifelong sports fan, my concern is that this is only the tip of the iceberg.

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"This is only the tip of the iceberg," Christopher Raia, the FBI assistant director of the New York field office, said, adding the FBI is working day and night to ensure members of mafia families "cannot continue to wreak havoc in our communities".

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“The two criminal cases announced is only the tip of the iceberg and we intend to aggressively pursue all leads and hold anyone who broke any federal laws criminally liable.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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