be at the coalface

См. также в других словарях:

• 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 — 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

• 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

• 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

• at the coalface — engaged in work at an active rather than theoretical level. → coalface …   English new terms dictionary