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

Others also took issue with the campaign catering to the male gaze and taking inspiration from Brooke Shields' controversial 1980 denim campaign. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025

Detroit police said the incident began when Britton allegedly took issue with loud music at an evening barbecue behind the senior living apartments on Monday, August 11, in the 7500 block of Jefferson. —Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Some have taken issue with the tech lord’s extensive surveillance systems, which include cameras overlooking other houses in the neighborhood, according to the NYT. —India Roby, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2025

Twenty Republican state legislators called on Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson to take specific steps to address violence in the city, prompting a response from his office taking issue with the facts underlying the legislators' arguments. —Alison Dirr, jsonline.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take issue

• reissue