come to a head

come to a head

English

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Verb

come to a head

1. (idiomatic) To rapidly reach a turning point or climax.

   The escalating crisis between England and her American colonies came to a head when fighting broke out in 1775.

2. (idiomatic) To suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time.

   His festering anger came to a head after the incident.

3. (idiomatic) To suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed.
4. (medicine, of an abscess) To reach its final stage