expression, noun
making no sound; staying quiet
Literal meaning: adopting a posture or stance of complete silence, often to avoid detection.
敵に見つからないように、音無しの構えでじっとしていた。
I stayed perfectly still, making no sound, so as not to be found by the enemy.
expression, noun
lying low; keeping quiet and waiting for a chance
Figurative use: deliberately staying silent and inconspicuous, often while waiting for the right moment to act.
彼はチャンスが来るまで音無しの構えを決め込んだ。
He decided to lie low until an opportunity came.
A set phrase combining 音無し (soundless) and 構え (stance, posture). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from martial arts or strategic contexts where silence is used as a tactic.