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APAD: Tip of the iceberg

最西边的岛上 2026-03-06 08:39:16 ( reads)

Meaning:
The idiom, "Tip of the iceberg", meaning a small, visible, or known part of a problem is only a tiny fraction of a much larger, hidden, and more complex issue. ie. the portion of something that is immediately apparent, which obscures the complexity of the subject being discussed.

Etymology:
From the fact that floating icebergs typically have about nine-tenths of their volume below the surface of the water.   Early 20th-century uses of the term are believed to have been influenced by the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic on April 15, 1912 after it struck an iceberg.

From online + wiki with editing
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Saw an article recently on Global News website about human trafficking, and felt bothered by the finding (https://globalnews.ca/news/11568389/canada-human-trafficking-increases-2024/).

Knowing the illegal trade of humans for exploitation, started from ancient salvery, has existed for millennia, but the ever increasing number is worrisome, especially as the crime is often targeting women and children.

Per Julia Drydyk, executive director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking:

"The data issued by Statistics Canada and also data from the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is only the tip of the iceberg" (as) "less than 10 percent of human trafficking survivors are willing to engage with law enforcement as part of their journey."

I tried to think of a positive usage example of the idiom, but failed this morning. If you know any, please do tell and share.  Thank you!

跟帖(16)

godog

2026-03-06 09:07:29

周五快乐

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 09:12:28

Thx G兄 & same to U! Wow, What a nice example U gave, it

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 09:16:16

brings smile 2 my face :-) Appreciated & Thx again!

移花接木

2026-03-06 09:35:04

Wish icecream has much larger part below the cone

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 09:44:40

Hahaha, very positive thinking & good 4 U :-))) (in true

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 09:47:11

life, I can't finish 1 cone of ice cream or 1 can of pop

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 09:48:27

as my stomach will give me trouble otherwise ~~)

7grizzly

2026-03-06 09:54:55

Humans only learn from misery and suffering

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 10:00:23

So true!!! as 老李 said: One needle sees blood ... & sometimes

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 10:01:46

the suffering is so deep that 1 has 2 use joke to cover the

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 10:02:35

tip of the iceberg. Sigh ... ...

7grizzly

2026-03-06 10:46:11

At that, few sufferers learn.

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 10:59:42

Also true 2 some degree!Guess that’s Y the saying:江山易改,本性难移

暖冬cool夏

2026-03-06 11:55:38

Normally it is used to express negative things.Go兄好例子。西岛周末好

最西边的岛上

2026-03-06 12:17:51

暖冬周末好!True & that's Y I'm impressed by G兄's & 移花's examples.

JoyAnna.

2026-03-08 14:49:40

冰山露出水面的只有很小一部分,大部分都在水下。