the tip of the iceberg

noun phrase

: a small part of something (such as a problem) that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about

The news is shocking, but we may find out that the stories we've heard so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

Examples of the tip of the iceberg in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In other words, the horrific revelations in the film are just the tip of the iceberg. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

The exercise was just the tip of the iceberg in what’s unfolding across the country. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Now in 2026, those omnipresent slabs of plastic are just the tip of the iceberg. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026

But currently only the tip of the iceberg formally meets the full muscle dysmorphia criteria. — Ashleigh N. Deluca, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026