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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

take a rain check en · VERB

Meanings

  1. To request or accept a rain check (an agreement from a merchant to honor a special offer, temporarily unavailable, after the expiration date).
  2. (figuratively) In social interactions, to request a deferred invitation, as a polite way to turn down an engagement, usually with the implication that one is simply postponing it and another time might be acceptable.
    • If you don't like the news then press eject / Baby Davis, getting older, can't take a rain check 2004, “It Takes Time to Build”, in To the 5 Boroughs, performed by Beastie Boys:
    • I can't go with you to the museum this Saturday, but can I take a rain check?
    • "Would you mind if we took a rain check on our trip to Boston today?" Her hair lay spread around the pillow, and he combed it with his fingers, smoothing it around her head. 1996, Joe Hutsko, Undo:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
taking a rain check Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
takes a rain check Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
took a rain check Tense=Past lexicographic
taken a rain check Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
take a raincheck alternative lexicographic

Synonyms

raincheck