tip of the iceberg
Visible small part
Tip of the iceberg refers to the small visible portion of something much larger that remains hidden.
Since most of an iceberg's mass lies underwater, the phrase describes situations where surface evidence hints at far greater problems or complexities beneath: The accounting errors we found are just the tip of the iceberg.
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- submergedBelow water's surface
- glimpseFleeting view
- partialFavoring one side
- hiddenKept out of sight
underlying · deep down · scratch the surface · clue · small fraction · deceptive · ignorance · oversimplification · misunderstanding · symptomatic · complexity · portent · incomplete · hint · underestimate · snowball effect · depth · thin end of the wedge
- Weather Idiomsunder the weather, when it rains it pours, come rain or shine, rain check, take a rain check
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- Cold Expressionsfreezing cold, bitter cold, bone-chilling, cold snap, cold spell
tip of the icebergthe whole picture
the whole story · the big picture · the whole nine yards · root and branch · everything
tip of the icebergthe whole truth
full disclosure · comprehensive understanding · leaving no stone unturned · inside and out · in-depth analysis
iceberg, tipped, tipping, icebergs, tipper, tippers, untipped, tippable