take issue

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

The business group also took issue with third parties administering worker training, saying that labor groups could use them to prime the workforce for union campaigns. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The episode earned near universal acclaim from critics, but that didn’t stop homophobic trolls from taking issue with the show for spotlighting a gay romance. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

He was invited to see the movie before the festival, but took issue with the NDA he was asked to sign beforehand. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

The president’s overall approval rating has slumped in recent months, with many taking issue with his handling of the Iran conflict. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue