"at the coal face" meaning in English

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "trenches"
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  ],
  "etymology_text": "From being in a coal mine, at the face where the mining is actually occurring, especially in dark, cramped, dirty, hazardous conditions. Compare front line and trenches, of similar formation.",
  "head_templates": [
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      "expansion": "at the coal face",
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    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "at the coal face",
      "name": "en-prep phrase"
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "prep_phrase",
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          "kind": "other",
          "name": "British English",
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      "glosses": [
        "Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position."
      ],
      "id": "en-at_the_coal_face-en-prep_phrase-qnA5k5ib",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, idiomatic) Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "chalkface"
        },
        {
          "word": "codeface"
        },
        {
          "word": "front line"
        },
        {
          "word": "day-to-day"
        },
        {
          "word": "hands-on"
        },
        {
          "word": "nitty-gritty"
        },
        {
          "word": "nuts and bolts"
        },
        {
          "word": "on the tools"
        },
        {
          "word": "roll up one's sleeves"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "in the trenches"
        },
        {
          "word": "where the rubber meets the road"
        }
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      "wikipedia": [
        "coal mine"
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      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "at the coal face"
}

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        "1": "en",
        "2": "trenches"
      },
      "expansion": "trenches",
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  ],
  "etymology_text": "From being in a coal mine, at the face where the mining is actually occurring, especially in dark, cramped, dirty, hazardous conditions. Compare front line and trenches, of similar formation.",
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      "expansion": "at the coal face",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "prep_phrase",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "chalkface"
    },
    {
      "word": "codeface"
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    {
      "word": "front line"
    },
    {
      "word": "day-to-day"
    },
    {
      "word": "hands-on"
    },
    {
      "word": "nitty-gritty"
    },
    {
      "word": "nuts and bolts"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the tools"
    },
    {
      "word": "roll up one's sleeves"
    }
  ],
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      "glosses": [
        "Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, idiomatic) Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands-off, managerial position."
      ],
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        "UK",
        "idiomatic"
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      "wikipedia": [
        "coal mine"
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  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "in the trenches"
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    {
      "word": "where the rubber meets the road"
    }
  ],
  "word": "at the coal face"
}