Decisions & risk

Take a rain check

To politely say no to an invitation now, but suggest doing it another time.

Examples

  • I'm exhausted tonight. Can I take a rain check on dinner?
  • She took a rain check on the cinema because she had to work late.

How to use it

Informal, originally American English. Often with "on": take a rain check on something.

Where it comes from

From American baseball, where fans received a ticket called a rain check to watch another game if rain stopped the match.