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

Some members take issue with the ACP's rather expansive eligibility, which may lead to wasteful spending. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic Senate candidate running in Michigan, and Rep. Jared Golden, who is running for a fourth term in Maine, both took issue with the comments from the sitting president of the United States. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

TikTok users have taken issue with the Resilient Jenkins family‘s account, as a new clip shows that the family of six live in a 1-bedroom apartment, with their couple’s four children sleeping on the living room and kitchen floors. —Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Panel members raised concerns about the impacts on local wildlife but some also took issue with Musk’s political posts and his companies’ labor records. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above