# get by

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/get-by
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To subsist; to succeed, survive, or manage, at least at a minimal level.

## Examples

- I have enough money to get by this month.
- After losing his job, he had to cut his spending significantly just to get by until he found new work.
- Despite the harsh conditions and limited resources, the small community managed to get by through shared labor and careful rationing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.