the tip of the iceberg
the small visible part of a much larger problem
In Spanish
the small visible part of a much larger problem
Examples
- The complaints we received are just the tip of the iceberg.
- The financial losses are only the tip of the iceberg in this scandal.
- Her anger about the incident was just the tip of the iceberg of her frustrations.
When it's used
This idiom is commonly used in English to indicate that a problem or situation is much larger than it appears at first glance. It is a familiar expression in both speech and writing. It's very common across both formal and informal contexts.
The common mistake
A common mistake is translating it as 'the point of the iceberg', which is incorrect. There can also be confusion in thinking it refers only to concrete problems, when it actually applies to any large problem with a hidden part.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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