get by

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The phrase "get by" is a versatile English expression that can have several meanings depending on the context. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand it better.

Basic Definition

1. To Manage or Survive: "Get by" often means to manage or survive with what you have, especially in difficult situations. It suggests that you are making do or coping without everything you might want or need.

Usage Instructions

• You can use "get by" when talking about managing with limited resources or during tough times.
• It can also imply that someone is doing just enough to meet basic needs without thriving.

Examples

1. Managing with Limited Resources:
   • "Even though I lost my job, I can get by on my savings for a few months."
2. Surviving Through Difficult Times:
   • "We only have a little food left, but we’ll get by until the next grocery trip."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, "get by" can mean to succeed in a situation without great effort or to avoid serious consequences.

Variants and Related Phrases

• "Get by on": This phrase means to survive or manage using a specific amount of something.

  • Example: "We got by on just a gallon of gas for the trip."

• "Get by with": This means to manage using something specific.

  • Example: "They had to get by with half a loaf of bread for dinner."

Different Meanings

• To Escape Consequences: Sometimes, "get by" can mean to avoid punishment or negative outcomes.
  • Example: "She always seems to get by with her mistakes without being caught."

Synonyms

• Manage
• Cope
• Survive
• Make do

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Make do": This is similar to "get by" and means to use what you have instead of what you would like.
  • Example: "We didn't have enough chairs, so we had to make do with what we had."

Conclusion

In summary, "get by" is a useful phrase that implies managing or surviving through difficulty, often with limited resources. You can use it in various contexts to express how someone copes with challenges or gets through tough situations.

Academic

Verb

1. escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action
   • She gets away with murder!
   • I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities
2. pass or move in front of
   • Bride's Biscuit got by the other dogs to win the race
3. come to terms with
   • We got by on just a gallon of gas
   • They made do on half a loaf of bread every day

Synonyms

• get off
• get away
• get out
• escape
• cope
• make out
• make do
• contend
• grapple
• deal
• manage