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iceberg

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be the tip of the iceberg

To be only a small, often unrepresentative portion of something much larger or more complex that cannot yet be seen or understood. If Congress doesn't vote to extend the debt limit, a government shutdown will be the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the country will have to deal with. With mobile apps, you have to account for replay value, monetization, ad revenue, and how much the players will spread the game to their friends. Making a fun game is really just the tip of the iceberg!

See also: iceberg, of, tip

tip of the iceberg

Fig. only the part of something that can be easily observed, but not the rest of it, which is hidden. (Referring to the fact that the majority of an iceberg is below the surface of the water.) The problems that you see here now are just the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous disasters waiting to happen.

See also: iceberg, of, tip

just the tip of the iceberg

a small part of something much larger This technology is the tip of the iceberg, the very beginning of modern telecommunications. The list of thefts goes on and on, and the examples you have read about are just the tip of the iceberg.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the tip of the iceberg (the small part of a large mass of ice floating in the sea that can be seen above water)

See also: iceberg, just, of, tip

the tip of the iceberg

a small part of a problem or a difficult situation which is really much larger than it seems

Usage notes: An iceberg is a very large mass of ice that floats in the sea and often it is only possible to see a small part of it.

What you saw last night was just the tip of the iceberg. The difficulties we've discussed are only the tip of the iceberg.

See also: iceberg, of, tip

tip of the iceberg

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]

See also: iceberg, of, tip

iceberg

n. a cold and unemotional person. (see also iceberg slim.) What an insensitive iceberg!

iceberg slim

1. n. a pimp. When iceberg slim came by in his pimpmobile, Jed made a rude sign at him.

2. n. a person who exploits others; a cold, heartless person. The guy’s a regular iceberg slim.

See also: iceberg, slim

tip of the iceberg

A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden.

See also: iceberg, of, tip