take issue

idiomatic phrase

: to adopt or express an opposed or contrary view or position : disagree

Though a barbecuing Southerner may take issue, Texas-style and Korean barbecue have much in common.

—Anito Lo

—usually used with with

She took issue with the conclusions reached by the study.

Carolyn Nichols, an editor at Bantam, took issue with the notion that romance fiction is escapist.

—Charles Trueheart

Despite the proliferation of all means of communications, from magazines to computers, books remain our chief medium for the full expression of ideas, and for taking issue with those of others.

—Robert R. Harris

Examples of take issue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the dissent, Justice Elena Kagan took issue with the way the ruling was reached, which was through the emergency docket. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025

Some reparto critics, however, take issue with the genre’s explicit nature. —Ana González Vilá, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025

Of course, some investors may take issue with the adjustments that a company relies on to calculate adjusted earnings. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025

The auditors also took issue with the monitor’s practice of sending a draft of its annual report to the city attorney, the mayor’s office and public safety officials for review and feedback before the report is published, finding the practice could undermine the monitor’s independence. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue