bring (something) to a climax

To cause something to reach a point of great or decisive intensity. Aunt Jean and Aunt Judy had been bickering for months, and sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner together really brought things to a climax—unfortunately for the rest of us. At this point, an attack would bring tensions in the area to a climax and likely lead to full-scale war. The issues that you're trying to ignore in your relationship will be brought to a climax eventually, so you might as well deal with them now.