The idiom "tip of the iceberg" is used to describe a situation where you are only seeing a small part of a much larger problem or issue. It means that what you are seeing or experiencing is just a small part of the whole picture, and there is a lot more going on beneath the surface.
This phrase comes from the idea that an iceberg is much larger underwater than it is above water, and only a small portion of it is visible above the surface. Similarly, when we use this idiom, we are saying that what we can see or understand is only a small part of a much larger issue.
For example, if a company is having financial problems and has to lay off some employees, that might be just the tip of the iceberg. There could be much deeper issues with the company's finances that are not yet visible, and the layoffs are just the beginning.
In everyday conversations, you might use this idiom to describe a situation where you suspect there is more going on than what is immediately apparent. It's a way of saying that there is a bigger problem or issue that needs to be addressed.
• The environmental impact of plastic waste is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to take urgent action to address the issue. (complex sentence)
• The company's financial troubles are just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to assess the underlying issues to come up with a comprehensive solution. (complex sentence)
• The corruption scandal that was uncovered is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to investigate further to uncover the full extent of it. (compound-complex sentence)
• The political unrest that we are witnessing is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to understand the complex dynamics at play to find a lasting solution. (compound-complex sentence)
• The problem that we are facing is just the tip of the iceberg. (simple sentence)
• The number of people infected with the virus is just the tip of the iceberg, and we need to take more precautions. (compound sentence)