takes genitive case の, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. out of sight, in the background, unnoticed, under the veranda.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
縁の下 えんのした

Contained Kanji Breakdown

affinity, relation, connection
エン -ネン ふち (7th, N1)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
divination
タン (Kentei 1)
pig's head radical variant (no. 58)
ケイ (Kentei 1)
pig, hog, pig radical (no. 152)
 (Kentei 1)
below, down, descend
カ した くだ.る (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
divining, fortune-telling, divination or katakana to radical (no. 25)
ボク うらな.う うらない (Kentei Pre-1)