英语短语 "take its toll" 的核心含义是:(长期的压力、劳累、疾病等不利因素)逐渐造成损害、消耗或负面结果;付出代价。
其中,"toll" 本身作名词时有“损失、代价、伤亡”的意思(如 death toll 死亡人数),短语中侧重“累积性的负面影响”——即某因素长期存在后,最终显现出的“消耗”或“伤害”。
常用结构:Sth. takes its toll (on sb./sth.)
主语:通常是持续的负面因素(如压力、过度工作、年龄、疾病、恶劣环境等);
"on sb./sth.":引出受影响的对象(可省略,但加后更明确);
时态:根据语境用一般现在时(takes)、现在完成时(has taken)、过去时(took)等。
以下是不同语境的典型用法,帮助理解:
指长期的不良习惯或压力损害健康:
Chronic stress has taken its toll on her mental health.(长期压力对她的心理健康造成了损害。)
Years of smoking finally took its toll, and he was diagnosed with lung cancer.(多年吸烟最终导致恶果,他被确诊为肺癌。)
过度工作或疲惫累积后的结果:
The tight deadline and endless overtime took its toll—she collapsed at her desk.(紧迫的截止日期和没完没了的加班终于让她扛不住了——她在办公桌前晕倒了。)
Running three businesses at once has taken a heavy toll on his energy.(同时经营三家公司严重消耗了他的精力。)
岁月带来的自然损耗:
Age is starting to take its toll on his knees—he can’t climb stairs as easily as before.(年龄开始影响他的膝盖——他爬楼梯不如以前轻松了。)
The old building has stood for a century, and time has taken its toll on the walls.(这座老建筑已经存在了一个世纪,时间让墙壁变得破旧。)
长期矛盾或压力对关系的破坏:
Constant fighting took their toll on their marriage, and they finally divorced.(不断的争吵摧毁了他们的婚姻,最终离婚了。)
The long-distance relationship took a toll on their emotional connection.(异地恋削弱了他们的情感联结。)
重大事件或行为对群体/环境的影响:
The pandemic took a devastating toll on global tourism.(疫情对全球旅游业造成了毁灭性打击。)
Deforestation is taking its toll on the Amazon’s biodiversity.(森林砍伐正在破坏亚马逊的生物多样性。)
复数形式:若主语是复数(如 arguments、problems),则用 "take their toll":
The endless problems at work took their toll on her mood.(工作中没完没了的问题影响了她的情绪。)
强调程度:可加形容词(如 heavy、severe、devastating)修饰 toll,突出“严重程度”:
The hurricane took a heavy toll on the coastal town.(飓风给沿海城镇造成了沉重损失。)
省略"on"的情况:若上下文明确受影响对象,可省略 on sb./sth.:
The 12-hour flight took its toll.(12小时的飞行让人精疲力竭。)(默认“旅行者”受影响)
wear sb./sth. down(逐渐削弱):Stress wears me down over time.(压力逐渐让我疲惫。)
cause damage/harm to(对…造成损害):Smoking causes harm to your lungs.(吸烟损害肺部。)
take a toll on(与"take its toll on"几乎同义,更简洁):Lack of sleep takes a toll on your productivity.(睡眠不足影响工作效率。)
总结:"take its toll" 是描述“长期负面因素的累积后果”的高频短语,核心是“逐渐消耗/损害”,适用于健康、工作、关系、社会等多种负面语境。