From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcome to a headcome to a head (also bring something to a head) if a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, or something brings it to a head, it suddenly becomes worse and has to be dealt with quickly Things came to a head in the summer of 1997. → head
Examples from the Corpus
come to a head• It all came to a head a couple weekends back.• Yet, even as this crisis came to a head, the bishops remained unrepentant.• Matters finally came to a head about six weeks ago when my wife and I went out to dinner with another couple.• Despite these embassy warnings matters seemed in danger of coming to a head early in 1951.• That part of the debate should come to a head in December, when commissioners are scheduled to formally approve the projects.• The situation came to a head when the workers went out on strike.• They came to a head in 1562 at the Council of Trent, reconvened after a ten-year break.• Frictions between the Truman administration and MacArthur on the conduct of the war came to a head in April 1951.• It was a struggle which came to a head in the reign of Edward the Confessor, which began in 1042. 