English idiom

take a rain check

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to politely decline an invitation with the promise to accept later

Why this phrase?

Rain checks were tickets issued when a game was rained off, good for the rescheduled match; the phrase defers an offer.

Example

“I can't make dinner tonight — can I take a rain check?”

Dictionary details

Component words

rain

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

rain cats and dogs

to rain very heavily

when it rains it pours

when problems come, they come all at once

hang on a minute

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

sleep on it

to delay a decision until the next day

buy time

to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide

drag one's feet

to do something slowly or delay because you don't want to do it

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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