P'etsukh translation question

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Krystyna and Nory Steiger wrote:

> Hello everyone,
> 
> in my P'etsukh text, there is a room freeing up in collective
> apartment 12.  All of the other tenants feel they are entitled to it,
> as does the housing office locksmith, Vania, who wants the room on
> principle.  He sneaks into the apartment one morning and is
> confronted in the corridor by two tenants.  When asked how he got in,
> Vania answers:
> 
> -- Так я же первостатейный слесарь, -- лукаво ответил тот, -- передо
> мной все двери открыты, как перед песней.
> 
> Any ideas out there as to what the last half of his reply refers to,
> if anything?  Is it a popular saying, proverb, or maybe a play on
> one?  I can't help thinking I'm missing something that might really
> affect the translation of what seems otherwise to be a simple phrase.
> 
> Any advice?  Thanks, again, in advance,

Sounds like he's saying he can open any door with no effort at all 
("with my eyes closed," "with one hand tied behind my back").

Cf. the English expression "for a song" meaning "at no cost at all."

I wouldn't try to translate it literally, I'd look for a counterpart 
denoting extreme ease or simplicity:

easy as A-B-C
easy as pie
like falling off a log
like shooting fish in a barrel
like a hot knife through butter
etc.
<http://www.clichesite.com/content.asp?which=tip+2963>

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------