just getting by

(I'm) just getting by.

an expression indicating that one is just surviving financially or otherwise. Bob: How you doing, Tom? Tom: Just getting by, Bob. "I wish I could get a better job," remarked Tom. "I'm just getting by as it is."
See also: by, get, just
References in periodicals archive ?
Someone saw something in you, and although that someone may be long gone, and although you haven't used whatever it was for years, you'd better resurrect it--or, more likely, develop an entirely new, contemporary version of it--because no longer is "just getting by" acceptable.
Hard truths for the holiday
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