Idiom: Tip of the Iceberg

a small visible part of a bigger problem

Examples

• These cases are the tip of the iceberg.

Key rules

• Tip of the iceberg means a small visible part of a much bigger problem
• It is used with "be" or "is": these cases are the tip of the iceberg
• It is a figurative idiom
• It describes hidden problems

Common mistakes

• These cases are a tip of the iceberg → These cases are the tip of the iceberg