rain check
35
4.5
- noun
- /reɪn tʃɛk/
:
dejar para otra ocasión
- I will also have to take a rain check on the movie; I don't have $15 in the budget this month.
- take a rain check
- rain check on dinner
- give a rain check
Examples
-
Tom had suggested going out to dinner, but she'd taken a rain check.
Fiction book (1992) -
Um, about Christmas dinner-- I'm going to have to give you a rain check because I'm going to Ohio.
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I need a rain check.
-
You got a rain check.
-
Do you give me a rain check, or do I give you one?
-
So I'll take a rain check on that.
-
I'll take a rain check.
-
Look, gimme a rain check for tomorrow.
-
Can I get a rain check on your invitation?"
Fiction book (2001) -
I have to take a rain check on our plans this weekend, but I'd love to reschedule.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A statement by someone saying they will or will not do something
784
3.6
A promise that someone will do something
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to postpone or decline now while indicating intention to accept or reschedule later' cannot be directly inferred from 'rain' (precipitation) + 'check' (a control or inspection). The expression is a conventionalized idiom originating from tickets/vouchers issued for rained-out events, so its specialized, historical sense is unlikely to be predictable to a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.
Etymology
Rain check may come from old outdoor games: when rain stopped a match, people were given a paper rain check to come back later. So asking for a rain check today means 'a promise to do something later'.