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USA slang
To succeed with minimal effort; to barely pass.
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
USA
Formality
Informal.
Context Decoder
Check what it means in context, how it sounds and whether it is safe to use.
skate by means To succeed with minimal effort; to barely pass. It is best read as usa slang associated with USA.
"skate by" means To succeed with minimal effort; to barely pass. In USA, the nuance may be more specific.
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
To pass a test with a very high score; to do very well
Playing football (soccer) very well or succeeding at any sport
To nail it; to absolutely succeed; to slay (used for impressive achievements)
To succeed in getting something desired, especially sex or drugs
Teen aesthetic with scrunchies, hydro flasks, and casual preppy style
I swear; emphasizing sincerity or seriousness about a statement
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SlangWatch entries are maintained by the SlangWatch Editorial Team using submitted examples, regional labels, tags, and ongoing reader corrections. We avoid claiming a precise origin or cultural pathway unless the entry has meaningful supporting data.