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Definition 2024
coalface
coalface
English
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.
- (figuratively, Britain) A place where difficult or strenuous work is done.
- 2006, Alexandra Walsham, Charitable Hatred: Tolerance and Intolerance in England, 1500-1700, Manchester University Press (ISBN 9780719052392)
- Works of this kind are necessarily parasitic upon the research of other scholars and I should like to express my gratitude to all those whose hard labour at the coalface has made my own endeavours possible.
- 2007, Cathy Kelly, Best of Friends, Simon and Schuster (ISBN 9781416592082), page 40
- Lizzie had paid her own dues at the coalface of teething babies and gave the young mother an understanding grin in return.
- 2010, Emma Kennedy, The Tent, the Bucket and Me, Random House (ISBN 9781446407776), page 105
- However, my mother, who had been at the coalface of the marital collapse, felt the need to have an in-depth debrief.
- 2010, Alison Walsh, In My Mother's Shoes, Pan Macmillan (ISBN 9780230750470)
- But we both know that all of this wonderful equilibrium comes at a cost: there is the tacit understanding that it's my turn to pursue my dreams whilst my husband slogs at the coalface.
- 2006, Alexandra Walsham, Charitable Hatred: Tolerance and Intolerance in England, 1500-1700, Manchester University Press (ISBN 9780719052392)
- (figuratively, Britain) Where practical work is done, as opposed to theoretical or managerial work.
- 2006, Anne Bamford, The Wow Factor: Global research compendium on the impact of the arts in education, Waxmann Verlag (ISBN 9783830966173), page 57
- While schools were seen to be at the coalface of administering arts education, teachers, artists and children were rarely consulted in relation to the development of arts education policy.
- 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 9780215543554), 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.
- 2011, Fiona O'Loughlin, Me of the Never Never: The chaotic life and times of Fiona O'Loughlin, Hachette UK (ISBN 9780733628016)
- I wondered which next superstar I might have the privilege of seeing live at the coalface of stardom in Hollywood.
- 2006, Anne Bamford, The Wow Factor: Global research compendium on the impact of the arts in education, Waxmann Verlag (ISBN 9783830966173), page 57
Holonyms
Related terms
Translations
part of a coal seam that is currently being mined
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where difficult work is done
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