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rain check

(originally, US, _, baseball) A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.

ˈɹeɪn ˈt͡ʃɛkDocumented since 1870sSilenthistorical175 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1877 · no dated citations yet
1877BornToday, 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(originally, US, _, baseball) A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.

Feel so bad / Feel like a ball game on a rainy day / Yes, I got my rain check / Shake my head and walk away
Origin: 1877 US in baseball; metaphorical usage from 1896, more generally from 1930. From at least 1870, baseball teams would reissue tickets in case of postponement due to rain, which became known as rain checks. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"rain check" means: A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"rain check" means: A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a

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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(figurative) An agreement to honor a current offer after its normal expiration.

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For specific readers

"rain check" means: A reissue, at no extra charge, of a ticket for a baseball game or other outdoor event postponed or interrupted because of rain.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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