Idiom: get by

Definition

Idiom: get by

to have just enough money or resources to survive
to perform just enough so that you manage a situation or don't fail

Example sentences

— He couldn’t get by as an artist so he also waits tables at the restaurant.

— It was difficult to get by when I was in law school so my parents gave me $400 extra each month until I graduated.

— It's amazing how little you need to get by when you're forced to economize.

— You'll never get by on that salary in New York City unless you get roommates and live in Brooklyn.

— To get by after having the baby we moved into my parents house.

— I can just barely get by on my current salary so I'm thinking about getting a part-time job.

— My daughter got by in high school with sewing fake Calvin Klein and Guess labels onto her jeans but now people can easily spot fake clothing.

— His story of survival after getting lost in the woods is amazing—somehow he managed to get by on berries and water for 13 days.

— I got by in high school with C's but if I don't study harder and attend classes regularly I'm going to fail out of college.

— My French is just at the intermediate level but somehow I got by working in Geneva at UNICEF last summer.

Synonyms

do well enough
make ends meet
muddle through

Download your free illustrated idioms eBook!

Want to expand your idiom knowledge even further? Download our free eBook, '25 Illustrated Idioms,' to learn more useful expressions with fun visuals that make understanding idioms a breeze. Sign up now to get your free copy!

Idiom: get by

Definition

Example sentences

Synonyms

Download your free illustrated idioms eBook!

You might like these idioms