Rain Check: Meaning and Definitions
- The phrase “rain check” is used to indicate a request for the postponement of an offer or invitation until a later date.
- It signifies an individual’s inability to accept an invitation at present but shows an interest in accepting it at a future date.
- This idiom is often used in informal situations to politely decline an offer, suggesting that the person would like to take up the offer at another time.
- It can also mean a ticket given to spectators of an outdoor event, like a baseball game, to allow them to attend a later event if the current event gets cancelled due to rain.
- Furthermore, it can be used in retail, where a customer is given a “rain check” when an advertised item is out of stock, allowing them to purchase it at the sale price when it’s back in stock.
Rain Check Synonyms
- Postponement
- Deferral
- Take a pass (for now)
Example Sentences
- I’m swamped with work at the moment, but I’d love to take a rain check and catch up next week.
- The concert offered a rain check to all the fans when the show had to be cancelled due to a storm.
- Since the dinner clashed with her prior engagement, she requested a rain check.
- The store was out of the discounted items, so they gave me a rain check.
- He suggested a movie tonight, but I’m not feeling well, so I asked for a rain check.
The Origins and Etymology of Rain Check
The term “rain check” comes from the practice in American baseball during the 19th century.
If a game was postponed due to bad weather, typically rain, spectators were given a “rain check”, which was a ticket for a later date.
This practice then expanded to other areas, like retail and social engagements.
You can read more about it on Wiktionary.
