coalface

== English == === Etymology === From coal +‎ face. === Pronunciation === === Noun === coalface (plural coalfaces) (mining) The surface of coal exposed by mining, or a part of a coal seam that is currently being mined. (mining) The end of a drift, entry, or room in a coal mine. (figurative, UK) A place where difficult or strenuous work is done. (figurative, UK) A place where more tangible, practical, or direct work of an activity is done, as opposed to theoretical or managerial work. 2010, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, Exporting out of recession: third report of session 2009-10. Oral and written evidence, The Stationery Office →ISBN, page 20 By all means look at streamlining systems, look at changing the way that you produce public services for sure, but please do not cut at the coalface. That goes for a teacher, it goes for a policeman and it goes for a nurse. ==== Holonyms ==== coal seam ==== Related terms ==== chalkface code face faceworker ==== Translations ==== === See also === salt mine shopfloor === References === “coalface”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.