toll



toll the death knell

To cause or signal the impending end or ruin of something, especially a business, organization, or activity. Refers to the sound of a bell ringing (the knell) from a church to indicate that someone has died. The geometric expansion of the Internet and digital media has tolled the death knell for countless print-based businesses around the world.
See also: death, knell, toll

death toll

The number of deaths that have occurred after some major deadly event, such as an accident, act of violence, or natural disaster. The death toll of the conflict between the two countries is well over 2,000 people as of this morning.
See also: death, toll

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

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.
See also: toll

take its toll

also take a toll
to cause harm or suffering Divorce takes its toll on the children involved.
See also: take, toll

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, toll

take its toll

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]
See also: take, toll

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Hasse-Swedish
Chan-Khmer
Anika (1)AH-nee-kah (German)German, Dutch, Danish, Slovene
Ntombi-Southern African, Zulu
ErlingER-lingSwedish, Norwegian, Danish
Gerasim-Russian, Macedonian