Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
prep_phrase
Directly engaged in the operations of a business, rather than in a hands off, managerial position.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
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.
