be the tip of the iceberg

be the tip of the iceberg

To be only a small, often unrepresentative portion of something much larger or more complex that cannot yet be seen or understood. If Congress doesn't vote to extend the debt limit, a government shutdown will be the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the country will have to deal with. With mobile apps, you have to account for replay value, monetization, ad revenue, and how much the players will spread the game to their friends. Making a fun game is really just the tip of the iceberg!
See also: iceberg, of, tip
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the tip of an (or the) iceberg

the small perceptible part of a much larger situation or problem which remains hidden.
This phrase refers to the fact that only about one fifth of the mass of an iceberg is visible above the surface of the sea.
1998 New Scientist This leaves pressure groups wondering whether there are further breaches still waiting to be discovered. Sue Mayer of Gene Watch asks: ‘Is it the tip of the iceberg?’
See also: iceberg, of, tip
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be the tip of the ˈiceberg

what you can see of a problem or difficult situation is only one small part of a much larger hidden problem: The 1 000 homeless people in London sleeping in night shelters are only the tip of the iceberg. There are many thousands of homeless people in the capital.
Only 1/7 or 1/8 of an iceberg can be seen above the water.
See also: iceberg, of, tip
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • iceberg
  • just the tip of the iceberg
  • the tip of an iceberg
  • the tip of the iceberg
  • tip of the iceberg
  • tip of the iceberg, (only) the
  • it's a (type of person) thing
  • it's a... thing
  • against the grain, to go
  • be/go against the grain
References in periodicals archive
I am a realist and not a pessimist, but I am prepared to say that based on my knowledge Jamie Oliver's loss is most likely just going to be the tip of the iceberg. We have already seen a plethora of restaurants close and some in our own city, but I prophesise that many more closures will follow Jamie's restaurant empire collapse.
Too may eateries in towns and cities; Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@birminghammail.co.uk Twitter: @birminghammail Facebook: facebook.com/birminghammail Post: Birmingham Mail, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ
we believe they could just be the tip of the iceberg.'
Just weeks to GE14, Bersih 2.0 says still finding errors in voter list
The current flow of up to 8,000 migrants each day into Europe may only be the tip of the iceberg and governments must work to bring an end to the Syrian civil war to prevent bigger moves of people, the UN refugee agency said on Friday.
UN warns refugee flow to Europe is 'tip of the iceberg'
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "Any incident of drugs on school premises is worrying as it will often only be the tip of the iceberg of what young people are encountering on the streets.
Kids as young as 10 with drugs in school
Mr Franks said: "Clearly, the number of incidents being discovered may be the tip of the iceberg. The rise in prisoners gaining access to Facebook in just a month suggests that monitoring has only been rigorously carried out since it was revealed that some prisoners were using the site to taunt victims."
Prisoners in Wales using Facebook
Mr Shaw added: "This may only be the tip of the iceberg. In all my 26 years experience as an operational firefighter I am only aware of one workplace survey into the noise pollution experienced by firefighters, and especially pump operators.
Case 'could only be tip of the iceberg'
We agree and note that the observed inhibition of efflux transporter activity by the musks may be the tip of the iceberg. As with the musks, there may be many chemicals that by themselves are not toxic but similarly inhibit the efflux transporters and thereby expose the organism to normally excluded toxicants.
Synthetic musk compounds: Luckenbach responds
But he fears it may just be the tip of the iceberg for small community churches with many more staring closure in the face.
Emotions run high at church service of farewell; Day of Easter celebration holds sad irony for parishioners
Most worringly, the financial experts say the 2002 total is "likely to be the tip of the iceberg" and predict hundreds more firms will go bust this year - leading to more big job losses.
Mirror On The City: SCOTS FIRMS FAILING
"At this stage we cannot release further details as this could be the tip of the iceberg.
pounds 1m heroin haul may be `tip of an iceberg'