Rain Check?

I understand most American phrases but not this one ………..'Can I take a rain check on that ?'
What does that mean ? Do they mean, I'll have to check if its raining first ?

 

It means when they get that sale item back in the store, you'll get it at the sale price. It usually happens when a product is on sale but they run out...at least that's my understanding of the phrase.

 

But I've heard it in films when someone is asked out to dinner for instance

 

In that case it means, can't go with you now but I can another time.

 

Ha ha yea - I gathered that but why 'rain check' - what's the weather to do with it

 

Looked it up for you because I wasn't sure.....


Where did the word rain check come from?

This term comes from baseball, where in the 1880s it became the practice to offer paying spectators a rain check entitling them to future admission for a game that was postponed or ended early owing to bad weather.


Makes sense!

 

Fab ! Love the answer !

 

Ha ha to the cartoon too !