a small part of something much larger.

This technology is the tip of the iceberg, the very beginning of modern telecommunications.

The list of thefts goes on and on, and the examples you have read about are just the tip of the iceberg.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the tip of the iceberg (= the small part of a large mass of ice floating in the sea that can be seen above water)

• daylight robbery
• day of reckoning
• days are numbered
• day-to-day
• dead as a doornail
• dead duck
• dead end
• dead-end
• dead hand of
• dead hand of something
• dead in the water
• dead letter
• Dead men tell no tales.
• dead of winter
• dead on arrival
• dead ringer for
• dead ringer for someone
• dead ringer for something
• dead set against
• dead set against something
• dead to the world
• dead weight
• dead wood
• deal a death blow
• deal something a death blow