Wiktionary
alt. (context idiomatic English) To affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade; to cause destruction. vb. (context idiomatic English) To affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade; to cause destruction.
Usage examples of "take its toll".
No reply from the battlements, no harassing fire hoping to take its toll.
The snowy expanse was probably grazing pasture in the spring, but for now it was laid out defenseless for winter to take its toll.
The prolonged exertion was beginning to take its toll on him, as well.
His golden broadsword would arc above the fray, then swing down to take its toll from the enemy.
Her hair was bleached platinum blond, her smoking was her ginning to take its toll on her skin, and her clothes were always just a bit too tight.
Not much-he knew that in a battle, Fess would fight with amazing bravery for several minutes, at which point the stress would take its toll, and the robot's faulty capacitor would discharge, tripping a circuit breaker that would turn him off to prevent his burning out.