coming to a head

Verb

come to a head (third-person singular simple present comes to a head, present participle coming to a head, simple past came to a head, past participle come to a head)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) 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, intransitive) To suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time.
   • His festering anger came to a head after the incident.
3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed.
4. (intransitive) To reach its final stage.