IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishjust the tip of the iceberg
Meaning: The smallest, evident part of something that is much greater but hidden from view; more to a situation than one can see at the moment.
Example: “The two complaints we received are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: La partie émergée de l'iceberg Literally: The emerged part of the iceberg
Origin: Only about a tenth of an iceberg shows above water; the rest is hidden beneath. The figurative phrase became common in the mid-20th century, especially in the 1960s.
More English idioms
- to beat the band In an exaggerated manner; with a lot of effort or to the extreme.
- to the hilt To be fully committed to something; to do something completely.
- treat someone to something To buy something for another person.
- troubled waters Emotionally rough times or an unsettled situation.
- true blue Loyal and steadfast.
- turning point A critical point.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Unique New York. Three words that jam the 'y/n/k' sequence together — repeat it and it collapses into 'you…
- Pad kid poured curd pulled cod. Alternating repetition — the consonants swap at the start of every other word, which is w…
- Red lorry, yellow lorry. The 'l/r' alternation drill — deceptively short, yet almost impossible to say fast withou…
Keep exploring