toll (redirected from tolls)

take (quite) a toll (on someone or something)

to cause damage or wear by using something or by hard living. Years of sunbathing took a toll on Mary's skin. Drug abuse takes quite a toll on the lives of people.

See also: take

toll for someone

[for a bell] to ring for someone. Who are the bells tolling for? The bells are tolling for Mr. Green, who died last night.

---

sound/toll the death knell

to cause an organization, system, or activity to fail or end

Usage notes: A knell is the sound of a bell being rung slowly to tell people that someone has died.

(often + for ) The new superstore will sound the death knell for hundreds of small independent shops. (sometimes + of ) The closure of the local car factory tolled the death knell of the town.

See ring hollow

See also: death, knell, sound

take a/its/their toll

to have a bad effect on someone or something (often + on ) Bringing up nine children had taken its toll on my mother. The disease has taken a horrendous toll in parts of western Africa.

See sound the death knell

See also: take

---

take its toll also take a toll

to cause harm or suffering Divorce takes its toll on the children involved.

See also: take