get by

British  

verb

1. to pass; go past or overtake

2. informal (intr, adverb) to manage, esp in spite of difficulties

   I can get by with little money

3. (intr) to be accepted or permitted

   that book will never get by the authorities

---

get by Idioms  

1. Move past, as in There isn't room for this car to get by .

2. Manage to succeed or get along; also, barely succeed. For example, He's getting by even though he only works half-time , or If he applied himself, Paul could be getting A's, but instead he's just getting by . [Early 1900s]

3. Be unnoticed; also, get approval or pass inspection. For example, I wonder if these errors will get by the proofreader , or He hoped the paint job would get by . [Early 1900s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

get by

But then I also think to myself: Well, the reason you go to see a live show is because you’re getting something more than you get by just putting a record on.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

For some of us, it’s just enough to get by with a little help from our daemons.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Exports are picking up as businesses explore new ways to get by with US free trade still restricted in several sectors, Macklem said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

So, customers may still decide to call their current provider in order to negotiate a better deal, or ask them to match the offer they could get by switching.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

I tried going around back, but he shuffled sideways, arms out, doing this blockade dance sort of thing so I couldn’t get by.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Related Words

• cope
• get along
• get on
• prosper
• subsist
• thrive