at the coalface
idiom
British
: at the place where the actual work of an activity is done
teachers working at the coalface in inner-city schools
Examples of at the coalface in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With the stakes high, Bennett is at the coalface of the work making sure these big numbers aren’t a one off.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
Other governments have been at the coalface longer.
—Andrew Bruce, Forbes, 13 Apr. 2022
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Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
Other governments have been at the coalface longer.
—Andrew Bruce, Forbes, 13 Apr. 2022
Cite this Entry
“At the coalface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20coalface. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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