at the coal face

English

Etymology

From being in a coal mine, at the face where the mining is actually occurring, especially in dark, cramped, dirty, hazardous conditions. Compare front line and trenches, of similar formation.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

at the coal face

1. (UK, idiomatic) Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position.

Synonyms

• in the trenches, where the rubber meets the road

See also

• chalkface
• codeface
• front line
• day-to-day
• hands-on
• nitty-gritty
• nuts and bolts
• on the tools
• roll up one's sleeves

References

• Re: "at the coal face...", posted by Lewis on June 21, 2004, The Phrase Finder