Idiom
rain check
Meanings
A polite way to say you cannot accept an invitation now but would like to do it another time.
A store voucher that lets you buy a sale item later at the same price because it is currently sold out.
Definition
A rain check is a promise that you can do something later because it cannot happen now.
A rain check is an offer or promise to postpone plans to a later time. It is commonly used when you must decline an invitation but want to show you still want to meet. It can also mean a voucher from a store that lets you buy an out-of-stock sale item later at the sale price.
Examples
- I can’t make dinner tonight—can I take a rain check?
- Thanks for the invite, but I’m swamped this week, so I’ll take a rain check.
- Let’s do coffee next week; I owe you a rain check.
- The store gave me a rain check because the sale item was sold out.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say “take rain check” without “a,” but the usual form is “take a rain check.”
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.