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 + onToo 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
Sun, sand, salt water, chlorine, and sunscreen all take a toll on the fabric.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
The long, grueling hours of running a restaurant often take a toll on owners-operators.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 May 2025
Apart from clear physiological causes, life’s difficult phases, like grief, burnout or major transitions, can also take a toll on the body.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
But Brunson's coming off a rough 4-for-16 night from the floor, as Thompson's size and physicality on defense appeared to take its toll on him.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for take a/its toll
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
The long, grueling hours of running a restaurant often take a toll on owners-operators.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 May 2025
Apart from clear physiological causes, life’s difficult phases, like grief, burnout or major transitions, can also take a toll on the body.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
But Brunson's coming off a rough 4-for-16 night from the floor, as Thompson's size and physicality on defense appeared to take its toll on him.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for take a/its toll
Cite this Entry
“Take a/its toll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%2Fits%20toll. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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