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tip of the iceberg
01
a very small difficulty or problem that is actually part of a much bigger and more serious problem
What is the origin of the idiom "tip of the iceberg" and when to use it?
The phrase "tip of the iceberg" comes from the literal idea of an iceberg, which is a massive piece of ice floating in the ocean. However, what is visible above the water's surface is just a small portion of the entire iceberg; the majority of it is hidden beneath the water. This concept was first popularized in the early 20th century to describe situations where only a small, visible part of a larger issue or problem is apparent.
Example
The data we've collected so far is fascinating, but it's only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can learn.
The environmental impact study found pollution in the river, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall pollution problem.
The financial audit revealed some irregularities, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
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