get by
She can get by on her savings for a few months.
She can manage financially with her savings for a few months.
to manage to live or survive with just enough resources
With a small salary, he gets by but can't save much.
He manages to live on a small salary but doesn't have extra money.
Often used to describe managing with limited means.
to cope or deal with a situation, often with minimal effort
She gets by in French, but she's not fluent.
She manages to communicate in French, though not perfectly.
Can refer to managing in a language or situation without full mastery.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning can vary slightly depending on whether 'get by' is used with 'on' or 'with'.
Gold Rule
Informal Use
'Get by' is informal and often used in casual conversation.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'getten' (to obtain) + 'by' (past). Originally meant to pass or move past, later evolved to mean managing with minimal resources.
Usage Notes
Common in informal contexts to describe managing with limited resources or effort. Often used with 'on' or 'with' to specify what one is managing with.