English

A photomontage of what a whole iceberg might look like

Noun

the tip of the iceberg

1. (idiomatic) Only the beginning; just a small indication of a larger possibility; a problem is much bigger than it seems

   This is only the tip of the iceberg. Our problems can become much worse.

   • 2014, A teacher, "Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents", The Guardian, 23 September 2014:

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

Translations

See also

• scratch the surface