IdiomNature
French
FrenchLa partie émergée de l'iceberg
Meaning: The small visible portion of a much larger problem.
Literally: The emerged part of the iceberg
Example: “Ces trois plaintes ne sont que la partie émergée de l'iceberg.” — These three complaints are just the tip of the iceberg.
English equivalent: The tip of the iceberg
Equivalents in other languages
English: just the tip of the iceberg
Origin: Roughly a tenth of an iceberg's mass sits above water. French is more precise than English here, distinguishing la partie émergée from la partie cachée (the hidden part) rather than settling on the tip.
More French idioms
- De fil en aiguille One thing leading to another.
- Un fil d'Ariane A guiding thread through something impossibly complicated.
- En file indienne In single file, one behind another.
- Conter fleurette To woo someone with sweet talk.
- Des manœuvres florentines Devious, elaborately indirect political scheming.
- De bonne foi Sincerely, without intent to deceive.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- C'est une vraie chèvre They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
- Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…
- Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
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