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

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But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being. —

Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 Driving at the edge for a few hours in a vehicle cockpit that's only slightly wider than your frame can take a toll. —

Roberto Baldwin, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024 Flying can take a toll, leaving skin feeling parched, dull, and irritated. —

Sara Button, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024 By Danielle Sinay In short, consuming whiskey, vodka, rum, beer, wine, or other spirits can take a toll on your skin health. —

Sanjana Ray, Glamour, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take a/its toll

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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 2 Jan. 2025.

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