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

Driving the news: The co-ops take issue with provisions that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to issue permits for transmission lines, even if state regulators oppose them. —Daniel Moore, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Embiid, 30, reportedly took issue with a recent article written by Chris Hayes for the Philadelphia Inquirer, in which the columnist questioned Embiid's commitment to the team while mentioning his late younger brother, Arthur, whom the athlete's young son is named after. —Natasha Dye, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Republican women who work or worked for Trump took issue. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024

The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the telecom industry, took issue with the PIRG report. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above