get by

[1] get by: PHRASAL VERB.

If you can get by with what you have, you can manage to live or do things in a satisfactory way.

• I'm a survivor. I'll get by.     
• Melville managed to get by on a small amount of money.    
• = survive, manage   

cf. Get along means the same as get by.

• You can't get along without water.    
• = manage, survive   

[2] get by : 

   1.  Move past:

• There isn't room for this car to get by. 
  

   2.  Manage to succeed or get along; also, barely succeed. 

• He's getting by even though he only works half-time. 
• If he applied himself, Paul could be getting A's, but instead he's just getting by. [Early 1900s] 
  

   3.  Be unnoticed; also, get approval or pass inspection. 

• I wonder if these errors will get by the proofreader. 
• He hoped the paint job would get by. [Early 1900s] 
  

//Collins Cobuild, Am Heritage