Derogatory idiom for a person who clings to a more powerful figure for personal gain, like snow stuck to a geta sandal. Often used in political contexts for a smaller party in a coalition government.
He's always hanging around the minister like a hanger-on.
連立政権で、小さな政党はしばしば下駄の雪扱いされる。
In a coalition government, the smaller party is often treated as a lackey.
Literally 'snow on a geta sandal'. The idiom compares a hanger-on to snow that sticks to the bottom of a geta, implying an unwanted, clinging presence.