Grammar fix
get by
manage with difficulty
to manage to live or do something with just enough of what you need, often when it's difficult or you don't have much.
phrasal verbB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- I don't earn much, but I can get by on my salary.daily life
- Even though students often have a tight budget, most of them find ways to get by while studying abroad.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: get by (on/with something)
WrongWe get by with one salary.
RightWe get by on one salary.
You get by ON an amount of money (get by WITH a tool/resource).
Patternget by (on/with something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Get by' compactly means manage on just enough. Spelling it out as 'survive financially despite limited income' loses the natural, understated tone.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
get by + meanson [an amount]without itsomehowon very little
Don't confuse it
'Get by' is not the same as 'get ahead' (to become more successful) or 'get away' (to escape).