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

Meanwhile, other replies took issue with how her friend responded to the woman's comments. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024

William, who was the duke of Normandy, took issue with the appointment, claiming he’d been destined for the throne, and invaded Britain. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

Progressive Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders take issue with Kirk’s characterization that Asians in the state are aligning with Trump, saying their observation has been the opposite. —Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024

In April, Stellantis subsidiary Alfa Romeo was forced to rename its Milano model to Junior after the government took issue with an Italian-sounding name for a car built in Poland. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above