come to a head en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(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.
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.
2024 January 10, 'Industry Insider', “Success built on liberalisation and market freedom”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 69:
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(idiomatic, intransitive) To suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time.
His festering anger came to a head after the incident.
- (idiomatic, intransitive) To suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed.
- (intransitive, of an abscess) To reach its final stage.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| come to a head | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| comes to a head | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| coming to a head | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| came to a head | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| bring to a head | alternative | lexicographic |
Translations (51)
de zuspitzen (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · pt culminar (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · ko 곪다 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cy dod i ben (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · pl stawiać sprawę na ostrzu noża (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cy dod i ben (to suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time) · pt atingir um ponto crítico (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cy dod i ben (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · sv komma till sin spets (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · pt madurar (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · cmn 進入轉折點 /进入转折点 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · uk назрі́ти (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · ru нарыва́ть (to reach its final stage) · ru назрева́ть (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · sv komma till ett avgörande (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · pt criar pus (to reach its final stage) · nl een kritiek punt bereiken (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · wuu 到要緊個辰光 /到要紧个辰光 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · ca arribar a un punt crític (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · fr arriver à un point critique (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · fi kypsyä (to reach its final stage) · es llegar a un punto crítico (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · km ពង (to reach its final stage) · es culminar (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · el καταλήγω σε κρίση (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · pt madurecer (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · pt amadurecer (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · he הגיע לשיא (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · fr mûrir (to reach its final stage) · cy dod i ben (to reach its final stage) · ru нарва́ть (to reach its final stage) · pt vir à tona (to suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time) · cmn 進入緊要關頭 /进入紧要关头 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · az yetişmək (to reach its final stage) · pt supurar (to reach its final stage) · uk назріва́ти (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · cmn 化膿 /化脓 (to reach its final stage) · cmn 到緊要關頭 /到紧要关头 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · nrf têter (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · el αποκορυφώνομαι (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cmn 顯現 /显现 (to suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time) · pl postawić sprawę na ostrzu noża (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · ru назре́ть (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · fi kärjistyä (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cmn 到轉折點 /到转折点 (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · fi purkautua (to suddenly reveal itself, having lain latent for a time) · ja 熟する (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · nl tot een uitbarsting komen (to rapidly reach a turning point or climax) · cv шыҫ (to reach its final stage) · cmn 突然成熟 (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed) · fi tehdä valmiiksi (to suddenly become mature or perfected, having been inchoate or imperfectly formed)