Come to a head

[irmamar]

Does that mean 'begin'?

Difficulties came to a head in...

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Does that mean 'begin'?

Difficulties came to a head in...

Thanks.

llegar a un punto crítico. It means when a lot of problems are happening and the combination of them finally create a situation where everything has to solved at once.

I think the English is a metaphor for the development of a boil (furúnculo) or a spot (grano). These things develop until they come to a head, which is the centre of the boil or spot where all the pus accumulates. At which the problem begins to be solved.

[JPablo]

Yes, thank you for the graphic explanation...

Oxford bilingual gives these examples,

6 (crisis): to come to a head = hacer crisis, llegar a un punto crítico;
she brought things to a head by issuing an ultimatum = llevó las cosas a un punto crítico al darles un ultimátum;
his arrival brought the conflict to a head = su llegada hizo estallar el conflicto