take a rain check

English

Alternative forms

• take a raincheck

Verb

take a rain check (third-person singular simple present takes a rain check, present participle taking a rain check, simple past took a rain check, past participle taken a rain check)

1. To request or accept a rain check (an agreement from a merchant to honor a special offer, temporarily unavailable, after the expiration date).
2. (figurative) In social interactions, to request a deferred invitation, as a polite way to turn down an engagement, usually with the implication that one is simply postponing it and another time might be acceptable.

   Synonym: raincheck (verb)

   I can't go with you to the museum this Saturday, but can I take a rain check?

   • 1996, Joe Hutsko, Undo‎^[1]:

     "Would you mind if we took a rain check on our trip to Boston today?" Her hair lay spread around the pillow, and he combed it with his fingers, smoothing it around her head.

   • 2004, “It Takes Time to Build”, in To the 5 Boroughs, performed by Beastie Boys:

     If you don't like the news then press eject / Baby Davis, getting older, can't take a rain check