Meaning
- To cope or survive with limited resources.
- To succeed in doing something with minimal effort.
- To move past and obstacle or person.
Today's Sentences
01
I can get by on what I earn.
Situation
How are you managing with just a part-time job?
It’s tough, but I can get by on what I earn.
Doesn’t it stress you out?
Sure it does but I’ve learned how to budget.
02
I can get by with pasta and eggs.
Situation
Are you good at cooking?
Not really, but I can get by with pasta and eggs.
At least you won’t go hungry.
True, you don’t need to be a chef to get by.
Writer's Note
Let’s break down the phrasal verb "get by" into its types.
- Intransitive - These verbs do not need an object to make sense and can stand alone in a sentence.
Structure 1: "Subject + get by (+ on/with + noun)"
Example 1: It’s hard to get by on such a small salary.
Structure 2: "Subject + get by (+ in/with + noun)"
Example 2: He can’t cook fancy meals, but he gets by with pasta and eggs.
Structure 3: "Subject + get by (+ object/obstacle)"
Example 3: There wasn’t enough space to get by the parked car. - Inseparable - Because "by" is a preposition here, the object (if any) must come after the whole phrasal verb.
Structure: "Subject + get by (+ prepositional phrase)"
Example 1: During college, I got by on instant noodles.
Example 2: I don’t speak French well, but I can get by in Paris.
Example 3: I turned sideways to get by in the crowded hallway.
Related words: Cope, endure, manage, make do, muddle through, pass, scrape by, subsist, survive.
