coalface

1. (mining) The surface of coal exposed by mining, or a part of a coal seam that is currently being mined.

2. (mining) The end of a drift, entry, or room in a coal mine.

3. (figurative, UK) A place where difficult or strenuous work is done.Examples: "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."; "Lizzie had paid her own dues at the coalface of teething babies and gave the young mother an understanding grin in return."; "However, my mother, who had been at the coalface of the marital collapse, felt the need to have an in-depth debrief."UKfiguratively

4. (figurative, UK) A place where more tangible, practical, or direct work of an activity is done, as opposed to theoretical or managerial work.Examples: "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."; "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."; "I wondered which next superstar I might have the privilege of seeing live at the coalface of stardom in Hollywood."UKfiguratively