to have just enough of something such as money or knowledge so that you can do what you need to do
As long as she could get by on her bank loan, she didn't see any point in giving up her independence.
I could get by real easy without any of that bullshit breaking out here.
I couldn’t possibly get by on £500 a month.
Mister, excuse me, she said, but your car's in the middle of the road, people can't get by.
My arithmetic isn’t very good, but I get by.
Or for that matter enough of a case to get by any Crown prosecutor worth his salt.
You could probably get by with that computer, but a more powerful one would be better.
gets by
getting by
got by
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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