take its/a toll
C2 If something takes its/a toll, it causes suffering, deaths, or damage:
The problems of the past few months have taken their toll on her health and there are shadows under her eyes.
The deepening recession has also taken its toll in the south of the country, where unemployment is rife.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging and spoiling
- adulterate
- alloy
- at the expense of sb idiom
- at-risk
- bandh
- bang up sb/sth
- gild the lily idiom
- gloss
- gnaw
- gnaw away at sth
- go west idiom
- goonda
- poison
- ravages
- ruin
- scourge
- shatter
- shoot sth up
- sour
- tell on sb
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