coalface

noun

Etymology: From coal + face.

1. The surface of coal exposed by mining, or a part of a coal seam that is currently being mined.
2. The end of a drift, entry, or room in a coal mine.
3. A place where difficult or strenuous work is done.

   “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.”

4. A place where more tangible, practical, or direct work of an activity is done, as opposed to theoretical or managerial work.

   “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.”