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.
Even though students often have a tight budget, most of them find ways to get by while studying abroad.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: We get by with one salary.
Say: We get by on one salary.
You get by ON an amount of money (get by WITH a tool/resource).
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'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 + means
- on [an amount]
- without it
- somehow
- on very little