Meaning of rain check | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.
2. An agreement to honor a current offer after its normal expiration.
   figuratively
3. A promise or voucher from a merchant to a customer:
   figuratively
4. A (special) price guarantee for a sold-out item or temporarily unavailable service.
   figuratively
5. The promise to make good on any experience that the customer deems unsatisfactory.
   figuratively, uncommon
6. In social interactions, a deferred invitation, or deferred acceptance of an invitation.
   broadly, figuratively

Examples

“With trembling fingers he pulled out his watch. The hands pointed to five minutes to three. A blessed vision came to him of a moist and disappointed crowd receiving rain-checks up at the Polo Grounds.”

“Feel so bad / Feel like a ball game on a rainy day / Yes, I got my rain check / Shake my head and walk away”

“The St. Louis club is the only nine in the league which gives its patrons the right to see a full game or no pay. In Chicago and other cities, after the first inning is interrupted by rain the spectators are supposed to have received their money’s worth. In St. Louis ‘rain checks’ are issued in such cases.”

“This means that if you go to the store for a half priced $25 turkey, but the turkeys are out, you can get a rain check. With the rain check, when those turkeys arrive again in a week or so, you will get half price, even if the sale is over.”

“So if you go to CVS to cash in on the Venus Razor BOGO deal and you discover that other shoppers have beat you to it and the shelves are empty, instead of pitching a fit, you can kindly ask a cashier or store manager to give you a rain check. That way, you can return at your leisure and still get the deal while others are back to paying full price.”

“[Regarding visiting the Indianapolis, Indiana, chapter of the fraternity Kappa Sigma] […] if in any respect the affair does not suit you—call at the box office and you’ll get your money back or get a rain check, just as you please.”

“I can't go with you to the museum this Saturday, but can I take a rain check and go some other day?”

“I'm on my way somewhere. I got a dinner engagement. Rain check?”

“When a sudden rainstorm interrupts your plans for a date, you have some choices: (a) brave the weather, (b) choose an equally fun indoor activity, (c) straight up refuse to leave the house and instead stay in together, or (d) be that person who asks for a last-minute raincheck (don’t be that person).”

CEFR level