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Tip of the Iceberg

Smaller part of a bigger problem or even a larger problematic situation.

Etymology:

  • Iceberg is primarily a huge part of ice that is usually broken from a glacier and it floats in the ocean. This particular saying is a renowned 20th century metaphor that describes the top of the smaller part of a mountain. It is considered that an estimated 90% of an iceberg is usually underwater.
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Repairing roof leakage from inside is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

Additional definitions for 'Tip of the Iceberg':

tip of the icebergOnly the beginning; just a small indication of a larger possibility; a problem is much bigger than it seems.
tip of the icebergOcean Scientists assert in reference to an 'iceberg': The {tip} exposed portion, visible above the sea, is only one eighth of the actual size of this awesome natural phenomenon found in the polar seas of our planet Earth.
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ปลายของภูเขาน้ำแข็ง

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Tip of the Iceberg

tip one's hattip of the hattip uptip the scaletip-offtip one's handarse over tiptip offon the tip of one's tongueOn the Tip of Your Tonguetip offfelt tip pentip outtip the scales

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    "Tip of the Iceberg." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/tip-of-the-iceberg_45094>.

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