rain check

/reɪn tʃɛk/

/reɪn tʃɛk/

Other forms: rain checks

A rain check usually has nothing to do with rain: it's a promise to do a canceled activity in the future.

Originally, a rain check was a ticket given to people who went to an event that was canceled because of rain. The rain check would get you in to another game in the future. These days, a rain check usually has to do with rescheduling. If you’re sick but have plans to hang out with a friend, you could ask for a rain check. This is a nice way of saying, "I can't do this now, but I will later."

Definitions of rain check

1. noun

   a promise that an unaccepted offer will be renewed in the future
   type of:

   promise

   a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
2. noun

   a ticket stub entitling the holder to admission to a future event if the scheduled event was cancelled due to rain
   type of:

   stub, ticket stub

   a torn part of a ticket returned to the holder as a receipt