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

United, in second place before kick-off, were written off by most given the derby fell in the mix of a gruelling schedule - they head to Munich for Wednesday's second leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final tie trailing after last week's 3-2 defeat - with fatigue starting to take its toll on their thin squad.

From BBC

That followed a warning from Germany’s chemicals association that the war in the Middle East had already begun to take its toll on the industry’s supply chain, with an immediate spike in oil and gas prices spreading to other raw materials vital to chemical production.

From The Wall Street Journal

"There are days where I feel like, 'what the hell am I doing here?' because there are days that it would really take its toll on you".

From BBC

With more than 50% of the Welsh Rugby Union's turnover coming from money made from the men's home internationals, the apathy is starting to take its toll with the game in disarray on and off the field.

From BBC

A long and arduous season is bound to take its toll at some stage and star striker Erling Haaland could do with a rest.

From BBC