tip of the iceberg

Definitions

A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems.

idiomatic

Equivalents

18 more languages

Afrikaansoortjies van die seekoeipunt van die ysberg

Bosanskivrh ledenog bregavrh ledenog brijegaврх леденог брегаврх леденог бријега+ 1 more

Češtinašpička ledovce

Ελληνικάκορυφή του παγόβουνου

Suomijäävuoren huippu

Gàidhligcìrean na tuile

Hrvatskivrh ledenog bregavrh ledenog brijegaврх леденог брегаврх леденог бријега+ 1 more

Magyara jéghegy csúcsa

Italianopunta dell'iceberg

日本語氷山の一角

한국어빙산의 일각

Nederlandstopje van de ijsberg

Polskiwierzchołek góry lodowej

Portuguêsponta do iceberguesuperfície

Русскийверху́шка а́йсберга

Slovenčinašpička ľadovca

Српскиvrh ledenog bregavrh ledenog brijegaврх леденог брегаврх леденог бријега+ 1 more

Türkçeturpun büyüğü heybede

Examples

“This is only the tip⟳ of the iceberg. Our time together can become⟳ much more exciting.”

“It is sufficient that the former provided the setting for implanting in the minds of the jury the notion that Sinhel had engaged in other related crimes and making that notion explicit with regard to the defendant by the "tip⟳ of the iceberg" argument. In short, the prosecutor insinuated Sinhel had been given many gifts and gratuities for an illegal purpose, probably from the defendant, beyond those for which the defendant was charged and beyond those for which proof was offered at the trial. The prejudice of a defendant of inviting conviction on facts—if they be such—dehors the record⟳ is counter to the basic concept of fairness.”

“The exposed tip⟳ of the iceberg, the recognized illness that brings a man to his doctor, is relatively small compared with the hidden mass of undetected disease, or 'at risk⟳' people, in the population.”

“The blacking out of the lights of the nation's biggest city could be a blessing in disguise. It brought to light⟳, dramatically, the deep unrest in a large part of the Black and Latin population and it emphasized the fact that something must be done and soon to quiet that unrest. And it may be that the current unrest is just the tip⟳ of the iceberg.”

“The number⟳ of dishonest scientists cannot, of course, be known, but even if they were common enough to justify⟳ scary talk⟳ of ‘tips of icebergs’ they have⟳ not been so numerous as to prevent⟳ science’s having become⟳ the most successful enterprise (in terms of the fulfilment of declared ambitions) that human beings have⟳ ever engaged upon.”

“Records document nineteen legal cases involving the charge of sodomy and five executions from 1607 to 1740, although this is no doubt⟳ just the tip⟳ of the iceberg of actual incidents. Even the minimal evidence we do have⟳ suggests that ordinary people, in contrast to the ministers and legislators, did not always harshly judge⟳ people accused of same-sex sexuality.”

“[O]nly a tiny portion of disagreements—the proverbial tip⟳ of the iceberg—ever ends up in court. Most agreements drop out along the way, either because they are settled or because the allegedly wronged party decides that the potential costs of proceeding outweigh the potential benefits”

“All human beings have⟳ secret, hidden, below-the-surface dimensions as well as outer, visible, and clear demonstrations. [...] Although it is not possible to see⟳ the hidden it is very possible to see⟳ the smallest units, the micro-signs, the tips of the icebergs in people, and then to make⟳ some small hunches or theories about risk⟳.”

“Sats don't reflect⟳ the bigger picture; rather the tip⟳ of an iceberg in the only subjects that politicians think⟳ matter⟳.”

“This collection is not even the tip⟳ of the human remains iceberg, according to Damien Huffer, an adjunct research⟳ professor at Carleton University in Canada. Collectors across the world have⟳ much larger collections than JonsBones, he said, and the trade⟳ far predates TikTok.”

CEFR level