tip of the iceberg
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
the tip of the iceberg; a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
neutralUsed when the exposed part of an issue represents only a tiny fraction of the whole, often implying the underlying problem is far more extensive or serious than it appears.
Méi媒
tǐ体
jiē揭
lù露
chū出
de的
wèn问
tí题
zhǐ只
shì是
bīng冰
shān山
yī一
jiǎo角
，
shí实
jì际
qíng情
kuàng况
yào要
yán严
zhòng重
de得
duō多
。
The problems exposed by the media are just the tip of the iceberg; the actual situation is much more serious.
Zhè这
xiē些
fǔ腐
bài败
àn案
jiàn件
bèi被
pù曝
guāng光
de的
bù不
guò过
shì是
bīng冰
shān山
yī一
jiǎo角
。
These corruption cases that have been exposed are just the tip of the iceberg.
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Wǒ我
men们
kàn看
dào到
de的
shī失
yè业
shù数
jù据
zhǐ只
shì是
bīng冰
shān山
yī一
jiǎo角
，
hái还
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
rén人
méi没
yǒu有
dēng登
jì记
。
The unemployment data we see is just the tip of the iceberg; many people haven't registered.
Zhè这
zuò座
gǔ古
chéng城
bèi被
fā发
xiàn现
de的
bù部
fèn分
zhǐ只
shì是
bīng冰
shān山
yī一
jiǎo角
，
dì地
xià下
hái还
mái埋
cáng藏
zhe着
gèng更
duō多
yí遗
jì迹
。
The discovered part of this ancient city is just the tip of the iceberg; more relics remain buried underground.