take its toll

Idioms  

1. Be damaging or harmful, cause loss or destruction, as in The civil war has taken its toll on both sides, or The heavy truck traffic has taken its toll on the highways. This expression transfers the taking of toll, a tribute or tax, to exacting other costs. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take its toll

Did this workload take its toll as the tournament progressed?

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

She played well for Seattle last year, but, oh no, she’ll be 36 during the season, and one wonders when the physicality will take its toll.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026

But that same physicality can take its toll in the latter stages of the Champions League, when players are feeling the strain after eight months of relentless action.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

Of course, Wikipedians are human, and the harassment many of them receive can take its toll.

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2025

But I guess popularity always has and always will take its toll on people.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers