come to a head
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- (causative equivalent) bring to a head
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb edit
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)
- (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.
- 2024 January 10, 'Industry Insider', “Success built on liberalisation and market freedom”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 69:
- In retrospect, it was small wonder that Railtrack found its finances under pressure, as with ever increasing demand there was an inevitable effect on infrastructure renewals. Matters came to a head with the Hatfield accident on October 17 2000, when there was a high-speed derailment as a result of deferred track maintenance.
- (idiomatic) To suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time.
- His festering anger came to a head after the incident.
- (idiomatic) To suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed.
- (medicine, of an abscess) To reach its final stage.
Translations edit
to rapidly reach a turning point or climax
|
to suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time
|
to suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed
to reach its final stage
|