take a/its toll

idiom

: to have a serious, bad effect on someone or something : to cause harm or damage
If you keep working so hard, the stress will eventually take its toll.
often + on
Too much sunlight can take a (heavy) toll on your skin.
Her illness has taken a toll on her marriage.

Examples of take a/its toll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gastrointestinal Problems Eating too much protein can take a toll on your gut. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2025 Providing euthanasia services can also take a toll. Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 On top of that, threats like vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear continue to take a toll. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025 Signs Your Child May Need Help According to Limon-Rocha, perfectionism can take a toll on a child's emotional and physical well-being. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take a/its toll

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Take a/its toll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%2Fits%20toll. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!