The term 'JUST GETS BY' can be broken down into four crossword solutions: EKES (4 letters), SCRAPES (7 letters), NIPS (4 letters), and MAKESDO (7 letters). Ekes means to manage with difficulty, scraping is the act of gathering something together in small amounts, nipping is to take or cut off a small amount, and makesdo is to manage with what is available. Together, these words describe someone who is barely getting by, managing with difficulty and making do with what they have.