A huge chunk of ice, detached from a glacier, floating around the ocean — we all know that’s an iceberg, most of it is under water and it’s only the tip that can be seen.
So, what does the idiom the tip of the iceberg stand for?
Well, if something is the tip of the iceberg, then it’s a small part of a much larger issue. So, the iceberg is used to refer to the fact that there is a very big problem and the tip is a small part of that bigger problem. The phrase has a negative meaning to it and is usually used to describe situations or people that are difficult.
Now, if your mom, who is just back from a short holiday, is shocked to see the kitchen all messed up, you can tell her, “Mom, that’s just the tip of the iceberg . The rest of the house is in worse shape!”
