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

After the Woolsey Fire swept through the Malibu area in 2018, some residents took issue with the policy, according to the Los Angeles Times. —Chris Boyette, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024

Republicans took issue with Newsom choosing someone who wasn’t living in California — Butler is a longtime California homeowner but had moved with her wife and daughter to Maryland while running EMILYs List. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024

Fallon took issue with Rowe's position near Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump and Mr. Biden. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2024

Finally, addressing the legal consequences of climate change, Taylor took issue with other parties approach to the question. —Jon McGowan, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above