1. a piece of paper allowing one to see an event—which has been canceled—at a later time (Ticket for Later)

1. The game was canceled because of the storm, but we all got rain checks on it.

2. I can’t use a rain check because I’m leaving town for a month.

2. a re-issuance of an invitation at a later date. (Said to someone who has invited you to something that you cannot attend now, but would like to attend at a later time.)(DELAY IN ACCEPTING)

1. We would love to come to your house, but we are busy next Saturday. Could we take a rain check on your kind invitation?

2. Oh, yes. You have a rain check that’s good anytime you can come by and visit.

3. I’m busy now, but can I take a rain check on that cup of coffee?

3. a piece of paper that allows one to purchase an item on sale at a later date. (Stores issue these pieces of paper when they run out of specially priced sale merchandise.)

1. The store was all out of the shampoo they advertised, but I got a rain check.

2. Yes, you should always take a rain check so you can get it at the sale price later when they have more.

3. The store had run out of the guitars that were on sale, so they gave us a rain check.

4. The store offered rain checks when the sale items had all sold.