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

According to the post, his roommate was well aware of this routine and had never taken issue with it before. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025

Cameron isn't the first person to take issue with one of the jokes at the 2013 Golden Globes. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025

Meek Mill, whose incarceration and subsequent advocacy for criminal-justice reform managed to reframe street authenticity in rap, chimed in, addressing rappers and fans taking issue with 21’s comments. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025

The new generation of conservative politicians, including Abe and Takaichi, openly questioned the necessity of an apology and took issue with its content. —Ayumi Teraoka, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue