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
The new tariff on China will take a toll on trade between Illinois and China.
—
Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Forecasters say the tariffs will take a toll on the economy even if they’re not passed along to consumers through higher prices.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
View 6 Images Most of us spend an awful lot of time looking at pocket-friendly screens these days, which can take its toll on our peepers.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025
Chronic underfunding in parts of the government will take a toll, too.
—Alexandra Prokopenko, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take a/its toll 
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Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Forecasters say the tariffs will take a toll on the economy even if they’re not passed along to consumers through higher prices.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
View 6 Images Most of us spend an awful lot of time looking at pocket-friendly screens these days, which can take its toll on our peepers.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025
Chronic underfunding in parts of the government will take a toll, too.
—Alexandra Prokopenko, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take a/its toll
Dictionary Entries Near 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 16 Feb. 2025.
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