Raincheck

Raincheck, also written as rain check or rain-check, is a term used to refer to a promise or arrangement to postpone participation in an event or activity to a later time. It originated in American baseball in the 19th century, where a postponed or rained-out game left ticket holders with a voucher—often called a rain check—that could be redeemed for admission to a future game. Over time, the phrase broadened beyond sports to ordinary social invitations and commercial contexts.

As an idiom, take a rain check means to decline an invitation or offer at the moment but to express interest in rescheduling or participating later. The expression is common in casual speech and formal writing alike, and it is understood across English-speaking regions where the idiom has spread beyond its athletic roots.

In retail and promotions, a rain check refers to a policy or certificate that allows a customer to purchase an item at a specified price when it becomes available again, typically after it runs out of stock or during a temporary shortage. The concept may also apply when services are disrupted by weather or other delays, offering a way to honor a purchase or appointment at a later date.

Variations in spelling exist, with occasional hyphenation such as rain-check, though the two-word form rain check is now most prevalent. The term remains a common, neutral way to convey postponement with an implied intent to participate or obtain the item in the future.