Phrasal verbs "get by" vs "get to"

Differences between get by and get to

Get by means to manage or survive with limited resources or abilities, while get to means to arrive at a destination or to have the opportunity to do something.

Meanings and Definitions: get by vs get to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Get by

• 1. Have just enough money to live on.

  They're finding it increasingly difficult to GET BY since their daughter was born.

• 2. Not be noticed ( problems, errors, etc ).

  I had checked it, but there still were a few mistakes that didn't GET BY the editor.

Get to

• 1. Annoy, irritate.

  Don't let her GET TO you; she's just in a bad mood.

• 2. Arrive.

  When I GET TO it, I'll look at the matter carefully.

• 3. Start discussing a topic.

  We asked him to GET TO the point, but he just waffled away.

• 4. Have the opportunity to do something.

  Last June I GOT TO visit Stonehenge.

Usage Examples: get by, get to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

get by

Example

I'm not rich, but I can get by with my current salary.

Example

She gets by on a tight budget every month.

get to

Example

I will get to the office by 9 am.

Example

She always gets to work early.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Get by

make ends meet

To manage financially with limited resources or income.

Example

After losing her job, she had to find creative ways to make ends meet until she found a new one.

scrape by

To barely manage or survive with limited resources or abilities.

Example

With the high cost of living, many families are struggling to scrape by on minimum wage jobs.

survive on

To manage to live with only a certain amount of money or resources.

Example

As a student, he had to survive on instant noodles and cheap snacks to save money.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Get to

arrive at

To reach a destination or location.

Example

After a long flight, they finally arrived at their hotel in Tokyo.

make it to

To successfully arrive at a destination or event.

Example

Despite the traffic, they managed to make it to the concert on time.

have the chance/opportunity to

To be able to do something or participate in an activity.

Example

She was excited to have the opportunity to study abroad and experience a new culture.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “get”

• get it up
• get behind with
• get on at
• get in with
• get down

Phrasal Verbs with “by”

• stick by
• abide by
• live by
• fly by
• slip by

Phrasal Verbs with “to”

• yield to
• set to
• stick to
• give it to
• grow to

Differences in get by vs get to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: get by or get to?

In daily conversation, people use get by more often than get to. This is because get by is used to describe everyday situations where someone is managing with limited resources or abilities. Get to is used less frequently and usually in the context of arriving at a destination or having the opportunity to do something.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of get by and get to

Get by and get to are both informal phrases that are suitable for everyday conversations. However, get to can also be used in more formal settings like business or academic contexts.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of get by and get to

The tone of get by and get to can differ based on context. Get by often carries a tone of struggle or difficulty, while get to typically has a tone of accomplishment or excitement.

get by & get to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Get by

Synonyms

• manage
• survive
• cope
• scrape by
• make do
• squeak by
• make ends meet

Antonyms

• struggle
• fail
• suffer
• lack
• fall short
• be insufficient

Get to

Synonyms

• arrive
• reach
• attain
• achieve
• access
• approach
• enter
• come to

Antonyms

• depart
• leave
• exit
• retreat
• withdraw
• recede
• back away
• move away