at the coal face

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.

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at the coal face

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

• in the trenches, where the rubber meets the road

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

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