Definition of rain check
1 : a ticket stub good for a later performance when the scheduled one is rained out
2 : an assurance of a deferred extension of an offer especially : a document assuring that a customer can take advantage of a sale later if the item or service offered is not available (as by being sold out)
Examples of rain check in a Sentence
The store offered rain checks when the sale items had all sold.
Recent Examples on the Web Stay home and take a rain check on a social invitation.
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Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, "Horoscope for Nov. 13, 2020: Happy birthday Gerard Butler; Scorpio, explore mysteries," 13 Nov. 2020 Take a rain check on amorous activities and avoid mix-ups and misunderstandings.
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Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, "Horoscope for Sept. 7, 2020: Taurus, learn something new; Sagittarius, ask for what you need," 7 Sep. 2020 Take a rain check on a party or gathering that could become tiresome. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your determination to succeed may be in high gear.
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Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, "Horoscope for August 28, 2020: Happy birthday Jack Black; Taurus, rise above your wants," 28 Aug. 2020 Postpone major purchases and take a rain check on social outings.
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oregonlive, "Horoscope for August 6, 2020: Happy birthday M. Night Shyamalan; Libra, let a passing fancy go," 6 Aug. 2020 Des Moines: Hold the pork chop on a stick and get a butter cow rain check.
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USA TODAY, "Rock Hall, Hard Rock resort, full-service gas: News from around our 50 states," 13 June 2020 Gracefully, everyone in the comments accepts the rain check.
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Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, "The Facebook Groups Where People Pretend the Pandemic Isn’t Happening," 4 June 2020 Take a rain check on social connections; the fun may fall flat due to incompatibility issues.
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oregonlive, "Horoscope for June 5, 2020: Happy birthday Ron Livingston; Aquarius, hold off making decisions," 5 June 2020 In lieu of soul-shakes and bro-hugs, each draftee will receive a rain check from Goodell, to be redeemed in healthier times.
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Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "NFL draft or ‘Wayne’s World’? Basement broadcast reminds of simpler times," 22 Apr. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rain check.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for rain check
The first known use of rain check was in 1884
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