Originally used with reference to miners i.e those who remove coal from the 'face' of the mine, its now more commonly used to mean any work closest to the frontline
Managers have no idea how hard it is for a sparky these days because they never have to work at the coal face.
I love pulling apart engines. Its great to get my hands dirty at the coal face.
I love pulling apart engines. Its great to get my hands dirty at the coal face.
by Chill Pills September 29, 2007
Derogatory term used for a Nigger, because coal is black, and niggers are black, so they have coal-faces.
by Seedhouse December 6, 2004