take a raincheck
Decline for now
To take a raincheck is to decline an offer or invitation with the understanding that you'll accept it later: I'm exhausted tonight—can I take a raincheck on dinner?
The phrase comes from baseball, where spectators received tickets for a future game if rain cancelled play.
Now it applies to any polite postponement rather than outright refusal.
- ticket stubRetained admission portion
- rescheduleAssign a different time
- deferralAct of delaying action
- postponeDelay to later time
- put backReturn to position
decline · can't make it · prior commitment · tickets · baseball · figure of speech · colloquialism · sports · expression · alternative · graciousness · delay · politeness · social etiquette · event · courtesy · suggestion · negotiation
take a raincheckaccept
Consent to receive
say yes · jump at the chance · be there · count me in · commit
take a rainchecksay no
Verbally reject something
reject · pass · not interested · never · count me out
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, rain, rains, rained