To get by means to manage with just enough of something to survive or continue, even if it's not ideal. When a family gets by on a tight budget, they have enough money for necessities like food and rent, but not much extra. When a student gets by in math class, they're passing but not excelling.

The phrase suggests scraping through a difficult situation rather than thriving in it. A farmer might get by during a drought year by carefully rationing water for crops. Someone who barely speaks Spanish might get by during a trip to Mexico using gestures and a few key phrases, even if they can't have deep conversations.

Getting by often requires resourcefulness and determination. It's not about being comfortable or having plenty. It's about making do with what you have. A carpenter might get by with basic tools when the fancy equipment breaks, or a cook might get by without butter by substituting oil.

The phrase can also mean physically squeezing past something. You might ask someone to move their backpack so you can get by them in a narrow hallway. But more often, it describes that feeling of just barely having enough to keep going.