take a rain check

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a rain check" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to politely decline an invitation or offer while suggesting a possibility to reconsider or reschedule in the future. Example: Thank you for the invitation, but I think I'll take a rain check this time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I definitely didn't want to take a rain check," he said.

The New York Times

And if it does, the EU will also want to take a rain check.

The Guardian

It is time to take a rain check on that one.

The Guardian - Sport

The Meaning of 'Rain Check' Americans often respond to my invitations with "We have to take a rain check".

The New York Times

9) Return to your husband and tell him that you'll both take a rain check on talking about moving.

Independent

"You're trying to convince your customers to take a rain check — 'It's coming' — or explain why it's not there," Mr. Turner said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Most took a rain check.

The New York Times

(This year's Kennedy Center knight, Paul McCartney, has taken a rain check).

The New York Times - Magazine

It's a given that when a superhero movie opens, everybody else takes a rain check.

The Guardian - Film

They invited the neighbor with the dog, but she took a rain check.

The New York Times

But the old folks were ready to head back to the place on 207th Street, so they took a rain check.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take a rain check" to soften a refusal, implying you're open to rescheduling or reconsidering the invitation at a later time.

Common error

Avoid using "take a rain check" if you have no intention of rescheduling or reconsidering the invitation, as it can be misleading and insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a rain check" serves as an idiomatic expression to politely decline an invitation or offer, implying a willingness to accept it in the future. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a rain check" is a common idiomatic expression used to politely decline an invitation or offer, implying a possibility of acceptance in the future. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage in various contexts, especially in News & Media. While it softens the act of refusal, it's important to use it sincerely. Consider alternative phrases like "reschedule for another time" or "decline this time" depending on the formality of the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline this time

A straightforward way of refusing an invitation for the moment.

reschedule for another time

Focuses on the act of rescheduling the event.

postpone until later

Highlights the act of delaying the event to a later date.

not this time

A simple refusal, implying potential acceptance in the future.

defer to a future date

Emphasizes the act of postponing with a more formal tone.

beg off for now

Indicates a polite refusal for the present time.

pass for the time being

Implies declining an offer or invitation temporarily.

skip it for now

Indicates foregoing an opportunity in the short term.

table it for later

Suggests setting aside the invitation to be considered in the future.

beg your indulgence

A more formal request for understanding for not being able to accept.

FAQs

How to use "take a rain check" in a sentence?

You can use "take a rain check" to politely decline an invitation, such as: "I'm sorry, but I'll have to "take a rain check" on that offer."

What can I say instead of "take a rain check"?

You can use alternatives like "reschedule for another time", "decline this time", or "postpone until later" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "take a rain check" in formal situations?

While generally considered informal, ""take a rain check"" can be used in professional settings, provided the relationship with the person is friendly and the context is casual. In very formal situations, consider using a more formal alternative.

What does it mean when someone says they'll "take a rain check"?

It means they are declining an invitation or offer for now, but they are open to the possibility of accepting it at a later time.