Can "vast" refer to vertical extent? Is that bad usage?

Hi, Andrew—"Vast" can be synonymous with "immense," and, since icebergs can be immense, I see no problem whatsoever with speaking of a vast iceberg.

Hi, Andrew and David,

@Andrew Van Wagner posted:

See my phrase here:

https://join.substack.com/p/are-war-crimes-funny

we see only the tip of a vast red iceberg

But "vast" here really refers mostly to vertical extent, doesn't it, given the iceberg metaphor? So is that an OK usage? You might think that "vast" normally refers to something wide like a "vast plain stretching out before them" or something.

Thanks so much!

I think what Andrew means to use is the expression "the tip of the iceberg" which means a small part of a problem that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about. In that case, 'red' should be omitted. See:

https://dictionary.cambridge.o...h/tip-of-the-iceberg

https://dictionary.cambridge.o...h/tip-of-the-iceberg

Thanks so much for the responses! I greatly appreciate the help!