toll thorough: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal & Informal (context-dependent)
Quick answer
What does “toll thorough” mean?
A charge or fee for using a particular service, especially a road, bridge, or tunnel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A charge or fee for using a particular service, especially a road, bridge, or tunnel; also, the number of deaths, casualties, or damage resulting from a disaster, war, or accident.
The sound of a bell rung slowly and repeatedly, often for a death; to ring a bell slowly and steadily. Metaphorically, to cause or incur damage, loss, or negative consequences (e.g., 'The illness took its toll').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. In the 'charge' sense, both use 'toll road', 'toll bridge'. The 'cost/charge' sense is more frequent in American English due to the prevalence of toll highways. The verb 'to toll' (ring a bell) is more common in British literary/formal contexts.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The 'casualty' sense carries a heavy, serious connotation. The 'charge' sense is neutral, though can have negative connotations of extra cost.
Frequency
The 'casualty/damage' sense is equally frequent in news contexts. The 'charge' sense is more frequent in daily AmE due to infrastructure. The 'bell' sense is low-frequency in both.
Grammar
How to Use “toll thorough” in a Sentence
The N took its toll on NPNP exacted a heavy tollNP tolls for NP (bell)to toll (intransitive verb)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “toll thorough” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The great bell began to toll for the deceased monarch.
- Church bells tolled mournfully across the valley.
American English
- Bells tolled across the city to mark the national tragedy.
- The clock tower tolls on the hour.
adjective
British English
- We took the toll motorway to save time.
- He works at a toll bridge.
American English
- Avoid the toll road if you want to save money.
- She has a toll transponder in her car.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to charges on infrastructure or 'toll-free' customer service numbers.
Academic
Used in economics for user charges, in history/sociology for casualty figures (war, pandemic).
Everyday
Discussing road costs, or the negative effects of stress/hard work ('taking a toll').
Technical
In transportation planning (toll collection systems), in demography/epidemiology (mortality toll).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “toll thorough”
- Using 'toll' as a direct synonym for 'price' in all contexts. Incorrect: *'The toll of the book is £10.' Correct: 'The price of the book is £10.' Confusing 'toll-free' with 'free of charge' in non-telephonic contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While a common meaning is a charge/fee, 'toll' also refers to casualty counts ('death toll') and the slow ringing of a bell.
It's an idiom meaning to have a cumulative damaging or weakening effect over time (e.g., 'Years of hard labour took its toll on his body').
A tax is a compulsory contribution to state revenue. A toll is a specific charge for using a particular service or piece of infrastructure, like a road or bridge.
Yes, but primarily in the context of bells ringing slowly and solemnly. It is not used as a verb for collecting money (we 'charge' or 'collect' a toll).
A charge or fee for using a particular service, especially a road, bridge, or tunnel.
Toll thorough is usually formal & informal (context-dependent) in register.
Toll thorough: in British English it is pronounced /təʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /toʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take its toll”
- “exact a heavy toll”
- “toll the knell (literary)”
- “toll-free number”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TOLL BOOTH on a road where you pay a TOLL. If you use the road too much, the cost and wear TAKE THEIR TOLL on your car and wallet.
Conceptual Metaphor
DAMAGE/COST IS A TOLL (Life's difficulties exact a toll on our health). TIME/EVENTS ARE TOLL-COLLECTORS (The years took their toll).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these sentences is 'toll' used in its 'bell' sense?