- at the coalface
- British
doing the hardest part of a job instead of just managing or organizing it
Teachers at the coalface know these reforms don't work.
English dictionary. 2014.
at the coalface
Look at other dictionaries:
at the coalface — (figurative) 1. Employed in physical or practical work or directly involved with production, as opposed to administrative or managerial work 2. Working in an exposed, difficult or dangerous situation • • • Main Entry: ↑coal * * * at the coalface… … Useful english dictionary
at the coalface — UK INFORMAL WORKPLACE ► doing the work involved in a job, in real working conditions, rather than planning or talking about it: »Those at the coalface of the business may occasionally lose patience with management theories and abstractions. Main… … Financial and business terms
at the coalface — British & Australian someone who is at the coalface is doing the work involved in a job, not talking about it, planning it, or controlling it. You sit in your office looking at consultants reports, but it s the men and women at the coalface who… … New idioms dictionary
at the coalface — If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way … The small dictionary of idiomes
at the coalface — ► at the coalface engaged in work in a particular field at an active rather than theoretical level. Main Entry: ↑coalface … English terms dictionary
at the coalface — If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
At the coalface — If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way … Dictionary of English idioms
at the coalface — engaged in work at an active rather than theoretical level. → coalface … English new terms dictionary
coalface — coal‧face [ˈkəʊlfeɪs ǁ ˈkoʊl ] noun [countable usually singular] 1. the part of a coal mine where coal is cut from the earth 2. at the coalface doing work and gaining experience yourself, rather than studying or reading: • his experiences in… … Financial and business terms
coalface — ► NOUN ▪ an exposed surface of coal in a mine. ● at the coalface Cf. ↑at the coalface … English terms dictionary
