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

Critics, however, often take issue with unusual, and sometimes bizarre, tangents during public remarks. —Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025

Some critics take issue with the fact that federal judges are appointed by politicians, not elected to their positions – a fact that others argue contributes to their independence. —Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 23 May 2025

Many people took issue with how the husband’s comment made his wife look in front of her new co-workers. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 May 2025

Ruda response to her question centered around encouraging students to attend school, increasing enrollment and growing programs to better performance outcomes, and Jean took issue with the fact that the superintendent did not speak to any of the concerns raised in the report. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue