at the coal face

English - English

Definition of at the coal face in English English dictionary

To be directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position

Turkish pronunciation

ät dhi kōl feys

Synonyms

front line, in the trenches

Pronunciation

/ˈat ᴛʜē ˈkōl ˈfās/ /ˈæt ðiː ˈkoʊl ˈfeɪs/

Etymology

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

Videos

... totally opposite reasons, they both believed that the people at the coal-face should have ...

... a lot of interesting stuff happening at the coal-face that never makes it back to the ...