take a rain check

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. 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 Informal · CEFR B1

to rain very heavily

when it rains it pours Informal · CEFR C1

when problems come, they come all at once

better late than never Neutral · CEFR A2

Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.

hang on a minute Informal · CEFR A2

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

sleep on it Neutral · CEFR B1

to delay a decision until the next day

buy time Neutral · CEFR B2

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

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.

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