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.
Trump’s tariffs, detentions take a toll on local tourism April 12, 2025 Rather than saving money, dismantling the agency will create more inefficiencies, said William Resh, associate professor of public policy and management with USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 The freezing process will take a toll on the texture of the egg whites and the yolk filling alike. Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025 Consumers make up about 70% of the economy, so a slowdown in consumer spending will take a toll on economic growth. Medora Lee, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025 Anyone's body is going to take a toll over a course of time. Kc Baker, People.com, 5 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 25 Apr. 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!