Dictionary of American idioms

RAIN CHECK (ON SOMETHING)

rain check (on something): translation

arain check (onsomething)
1.a piece of paper allowing one to see an event—which has been canceled—at a later time. (Originally said of sporting events that had to be canceled because of rain. *Typically:get\rain check (on something); have\rain check (on something); take\rain check (on something); givesomeone\rain check (on something).) •

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

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

2.a reissuance 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. *Typically:get\rain check (on something); have\rain check (on something); take\rain check (on something); givesomeone\rain check (on something).) •

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

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

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. *Typically:get\rain check (on something); have\rain check (on something); take\rain check (on something); givesomeone\rain check (on something).) •

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

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