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 Stay inside, stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity Skip the outdoor errands and stay inside from about noon to 3 p.m., when the sun is typically at its strongest, recommends the American Heart Association, which warns the heat can take a toll on your heart health. —

Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 21 June 2024 Kevin Costner doesn't pretend his divorce last year didn't take its toll. —

Elizabeth Leonard, Peoplemag, 19 June 2024 And while the injuries continue to take a toll, there is no time for this team to feel sorry for itself. —

Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 May 2024 Having to represent the entire Black community restricted you in many ways emotionally and can take a toll on your mental health and well-being. —

Niki McGloster, refinery29.com, 2 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take a/its toll

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take a/its toll.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Take a/its toll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%2Fits%20toll. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

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