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

Macarro is among several who take issue with non-native people claiming tradition to matters that are not their heritage. —Diana Lambdin Meyer, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

But some more thoughtful objections — see journalist Van Lathan’s October appearance on The Ringer podcast The Big Picture — take issue with the ways in which Perfidia is sexualized by two white men, DiCaprio and Sean Penn’s characters, the latter a neo-Nazi. —Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025

Lee has protested at the Broadview ICE facility on several recent Fridays, taking issue with how ICE is picking up allegedly undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area, and how federal agents are deploying tear gas during protests in neighborhoods. —Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025

Former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce took issue with players potentially facing fines for criticizing officiating after games and pointed to New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux’s remarks from Sunday’s game. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue