Lexic.us

Definition of Get by

1. Verb. Come to terms with. "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day"

2. Verb. Pass or move in front of. "Bride's Biscuit got by the other dogs to win the race"

3. Verb. Escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action. "I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities"

Definition of Get by

1. Verb. (intransitive idiomatic) To subsist; to succeed, survive, or manage, at least at a minimal level. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Get By

get at get away get away with get away with murder get back get back at get back on the horse that bucked one get back to get behind get bent

get bent out of shape get better get blood from a stone get blood out of a stone get by (current term) get carried away get changed get cold feet get cracking get down

get down to business get down with get dressed get drunk get even get fresh

Literary usage of Get by

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America by Louis Hennepin, Victor Hugo Paltsits (1903)
"[69] CHAP. XIV. Of the great difficulties in converting the Savages. Of the Prayers they get by rote ; and of Martyrdom. ..."

2. The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles: Ed. Under the Authority of the by Ezra Stiles (1901)
"Could you get by borrowing or buying, or by Donations the necessary Apparatus, with an House to live in, Firewood, a small Salary, this with the Liberty of ..."

3. Buddhist Legends by Buddhaghosa (1921)
"Said the treasurer, " What do you expect to get by walking back and forth? You may sit down cross-legged in the air, but for all that you will get nothing ..."

4. A Grammar of the German Language: Designed for a Thoro and Practical Study by George Oliver Curme (1922)
"... common meaning of getting, obtaining something in the manner described by the simple verb: erfahren to experience (ie to get by going, passing thru), ..."

5. Moral tales for young people by Maria Edgeworth (1806)
"you know, I get by rote slower than any body in the world." " I'm glad of it, heartily," cried Oliver ; " but this put something out of my head, ..."

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