Em 15 segundos
- Survive with just enough.
- Not thriving, but not failing.
- Implies limited resources.
- Common in everyday talk.
Significado
Significa ter o suficiente de algo – como dinheiro, tempo ou habilidades – para sobreviver a uma situação sem nada extra. Você não está prosperando, mas também não está falhando; você está apenas se virando.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 12Texting a friend about finances
Yeah, money's tight this month, but I think I can get by.
Sí, el dinero está justo este mes, pero creo que puedo arreglármelas.
Talking about a difficult course
I didn't study much, but I managed to get by on the exam.
No estudié mucho, pero logré aprobar por los pelos en el examen.
Describing a minimal living situation
We don't have much, but we get by.
No tenemos mucho, pero nos las arreglamos.
Contexto cultural
The British often use 'get by' as a form of 'understatement.' Even if someone is struggling significantly, they might say they are 'getting by' to avoid making others feel uncomfortable or to maintain their dignity. In the US, 'getting by' is often discussed in the context of the 'working poor' or 'the squeeze' on the middle class. It’s a politically charged phrase often used in news reports about the economy. Similar to the UK, Australians use it with a sense of 'no worries' pragmatism. It’s often linked to the 'Aussie battler'—a person who works hard and manages to survive despite adversity. In international business, 'getting by' is often used to describe 'Minimum Viable Products' (MVPs). It refers to a version of a product that has just enough features to be usable by early customers.
The 'On' Rule
Always use 'on' when talking about money. 'I get by on $50 a week.'
Don't Overuse
If you use 'get by' for everything, you might sound like you have no ambition. Use it specifically for survival contexts.
Em 15 segundos
- Survive with just enough.
- Not thriving, but not failing.
- Implies limited resources.
- Common in everyday talk.
What It Means
Get by is all about managing. You have just enough to survive. Think of it as the bare minimum. You're not rich, but you're not starving. It's that feeling of just scraping through. You have enough money for rent. You have enough time for the deadline. You have enough skill for the task. It's a sigh of relief, but not a cheer of victory. It's often about financial or resource limitations. You're making do with what you have. It's a practical, everyday struggle.
How To Use It
Use get by when you're talking about survival. You need to mention a lack of surplus. It's not a phrase for luxury or abundance. It fits when you're describing a tight situation. You can get by on a small salary. You can get by with little sleep. You can get by using old software. The key is 'just enough'. It implies a struggle, but a successful one. You're still standing, just barely. It’s like walking a tightrope. You’re focused on not falling.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine someone asking about your finances. "How are you doing?" You might reply, "Oh, I’m managing to get by." This tells them you're not rolling in cash. But you're also not homeless. Another example: maybe you have a huge project. You're working late every night. You tell your friend, "I can get by on four hours of sleep, but it's tough." You're not saying it's ideal. You're saying it's possible. It's a common way to describe your situation. It's relatable for many people.
When To Use It
Use get by when you want to sound realistic. You're not boasting about success. You're not complaining about failure. You're stating a fact about your current state. It's perfect for talking about budgets. It works for describing limited resources. Use it when discussing daily struggles. It fits conversations about making ends meet. Think about student life. Many students get by on ramen noodles. It’s a common experience. It’s also good for describing minimal effort. You can get by with just the basics.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use get by for major achievements. You wouldn't say, "I got by the marathon." You finished it, that's more than getting by. Don't use it when you have plenty. If you have a huge savings account, getting by sounds odd. It’s not for situations of comfort. Avoid it when you're describing excellence. You get by in a crisis, you don't get by winning an award. It implies a lack, not a surplus. Think of it as the opposite of thriving. You wouldn't say your vacation was just getting by. You hope for more than that, right?
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse get by with other phrases. They might use get over when they mean get by. Get over means to recover from something. For example, recovering from an illness or a breakup. Get by means to manage with limited resources.
✗ I managed to get over the project deadline.
✓ I managed to get by the project deadline.
Another mistake is using get through. Get through often means to finish something difficult. Or to survive a tough period. While similar, get by specifically highlights the *minimal* nature of the survival. You get through a tough week. You get by financially all month.
✗ She always gets through on a low budget.
✓ She always gets by on a low budget.
Similar Expressions
There are many ways to say something similar. Make do is very close. It means to manage with something that isn't ideal. Scrape by is even more intense. It suggests a real struggle. Survive is a stronger word. It implies a more critical situation. Manage is more general. It can mean succeed or just cope. Get along is for relationships. It means to have a friendly relationship. That's totally different! Don't mix them up.
Common Variations
Sometimes you'll hear get by on or get by with. These prepositions specify what you're using to manage. For example, "I can get by on $50 a week." Or, "We got by with very little." The phrase itself doesn't change much. It's a very stable idiom. You won't find wild variations. It’s like a reliable old car. It just keeps going.
Memory Trick
Imagine a Giant Elephant Trying to Bring Yogurt. He's carrying just one tiny pot. He can barely get by without spilling it! He's not carrying a whole fridge of yogurt. Just one small pot. He’s managing, but it’s precarious. The elephant is struggling to get by with his single yogurt pot.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is get by positive or negative?
A. It's usually neutral to slightly negative. It implies a struggle. You're not exactly celebrating. But you're not despairing either. It's a realistic assessment. It acknowledges difficulty without giving up.
Notas de uso
The phrase `get by` is generally neutral to informal. You'll hear it most often in casual conversation when discussing financial struggles or limited resources. While it can be used in professional contexts, be mindful that it implies managing with just enough, not excelling. Avoid it in very formal writing or speeches where a more positive or precise term might be required.
The 'On' Rule
Always use 'on' when talking about money. 'I get by on $50 a week.'
Don't Overuse
If you use 'get by' for everything, you might sound like you have no ambition. Use it specifically for survival contexts.
Humility in Interviews
Use 'get by' to admit a weakness while showing you are still functional. It sounds more honest than saying 'I don't know.'
The 'How are you?' Trap
If an English speaker says 'I'm getting by,' they are likely having a hard time. Don't follow up with 'That's great!'
Exemplos
12Yeah, money's tight this month, but I think I can get by.
Sí, el dinero está justo este mes, pero creo que puedo arreglármelas.
Shows you have just enough money to manage.
I didn't study much, but I managed to get by on the exam.
No estudié mucho, pero logré aprobar por los pelos en el examen.
Implies passing without excelling, just meeting the minimum requirement.
We don't have much, but we get by.
No tenemos mucho, pero nos las arreglamos.
Expresses contentment with basic necessities.
Exploring Kyoto on a shoestring budget! We're definitely getting by with street food and hostels. 🍜 #budgettravel #kyoto
¡Explorando Kioto con un presupuesto muy ajustado! Definitivamente nos las arreglamos con comida callejera y hostales. 🍜 #viajepresupuesto #kioto
Highlights managing with limited funds during travel.
Don't worry about the project, I can get by with the current data for now.
No te preocupes por el proyecto, puedo arreglármelas con los datos actuales por ahora.
Indicates you can manage the task with existing resources.
While I don't have direct experience with that specific software, I'm a fast learner and confident I can get by.
Si bien no tengo experiencia directa con ese software específico, aprendo rápido y confío en que podré arreglármelas.
Shows willingness to manage with minimal prior knowledge.
Your performance is adequate, but you need to move beyond just getting by.
Tu rendimiento es adecuado, pero necesitas ir más allá de simplemente arreglártelas.
Used to describe meeting minimum standards, suggesting room for improvement.
✗ I'm just trying to get over with my student loan payments this year. → ✓ I'm just trying to get by with my student loan payments this year.
✗ Solo estoy tratando de superar mis pagos del préstamo estudiantil este año. → ✓ Solo estoy tratando de arreglármelas con mis pagos del préstamo estudiantil este año.
`Get over` means recover, `get by` means manage with difficulty.
✗ She always gets through on a low budget. → ✓ She always gets by on a low budget.
✗ Ella siempre se las arregla con un presupuesto bajo. → ✓ Ella siempre se las arregla con un presupuesto bajo.
`Get through` implies finishing something, `get by` implies managing with scarcity.
My cooking skills are so bad, I can barely get by with boiling water.
Mis habilidades culinarias son tan malas que apenas puedo arreglármelas hirviendo agua.
Humorously points out extreme limitations.
After the layoff, it was hard to get by without a steady income.
Después del despido, fue difícil arreglárselas sin un ingreso fijo.
Conveys the difficulty of managing during a crisis.
We're getting by on instant noodles and free Wi-Fi in Bali! It's not luxury, but it's an adventure!
¡Nos las arreglamos con fideos instantáneos y Wi-Fi gratis en Bali! ¡No es lujo, pero es una aventura!
Describes managing travel with minimal resources.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct preposition (on, in, or with).
I don't speak much German, but I can get by ____ Berlin.
We use 'in' for locations or languages.
Which sentence uses 'get by' correctly?
Choose the best option:
Option B correctly uses 'get by on' to describe financial survival. Option A should be 'won,' C should be 'pass,' and D is a contradiction.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'get by'.
A: How's your new job? B: The pay is low, but I'm ________.
The present continuous 'getting by' is used to describe an ongoing state of survival.
Match the sentence to the context.
Match 'I can get by with this old phone' to its meaning:
'Get by with' means the item is adequate for survival/use, even if not ideal.
Match the 'get by' phrase with its most likely resource.
Connect the pairs:
These are the four primary prepositional patterns for 'get by'.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Recursos visuais
Get By vs. Get Through
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosI don't speak much German, but I can get by ____ Berlin.
We use 'in' for locations or languages.
Choose the best option:
Option B correctly uses 'get by on' to describe financial survival. Option A should be 'won,' C should be 'pass,' and D is a contradiction.
A: How's your new job? B: The pay is low, but I'm ________.
The present continuous 'getting by' is used to describe an ongoing state of survival.
Match 'I can get by with this old phone' to its meaning:
'Get by with' means the item is adequate for survival/use, even if not ideal.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
These are the four primary prepositional patterns for 'get by'.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Tutoriais em video
Encontre tutoriais em vídeo sobre esta expressão no YouTube.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it in conversation, emails, and most professional settings. It is only avoided in very formal academic papers.
'Survive' is more dramatic. You survive a plane crash. You 'get by' on a low salary. 'Get by' implies a level of functioning, not just staying alive.
It's better to say 'get by ON money.' Use 'with' for tools or help from people.
Both are correct. 'Gotten by' is more common in American English as the past participle, while 'got by' is standard in British English.
Yes, but it's less common figuratively. 'Excuse me, can I get by?' is a common way to ask someone to move in a hallway.
Not necessarily. It can mean being efficient or resourceful. However, it usually implies a lack of abundance.
No, you don't 'get by a person' unless you are physically passing them. You 'get along with' a person.
'Thrive' or 'flourish' are the best opposites.
Yes, it is an intransitive phrasal verb.
No, use 'get through' or 'pass' for exams.
Frases relacionadas
scrape by
similarTo barely manage to survive.
make do
similarTo manage with something that is not quite good enough.
get through
confusingTo finish or endure a specific task.
tide over
builds onTo help someone survive a short period of time.
subsist
formalTo maintain or support oneself at a minimal level.
