Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom.
The company understood that these small protests of employees regarding low wages were just the tip of the iceberg.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. A small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is really much greater.
'The tip of the iceberg' is an idiomatic expression that refers to a small, visible part of a much larger problem, issue, or situation. It suggests that what you see or know is just a small fraction of the entire thing, and there may be much more beneath the surface.
For ex-'The problems with the company's finances are just the tip of the iceberg; there are much bigger issues with management that need to be addressed.'
(This means that the financial problems are only a small part of a much larger set of problems within the company.)