What does "Rain check" mean? The way its used in films it seems to me that it means - some other time I promise??
2006-11-15 06:22:53 · 31 answers · asked by SCOTT B 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
you have rain in America? I thought it only happend here in the UK!!What prat has given me the thubs down, its a perfectly reasonable considering im from the UK and we dont use this term, shame on you!!
2006-11-15 07:26:51 · update #1
You are correct. It is a promise to actually hold a postponed meeting at some date in the future. Though often this promise is not kept.
2006-11-15 06:24:16 · answer #1 · answered by braennvin2 5 · 6⤊ 3⤋
A rain check is an informal agreement by a merchant to a customer to provide an item the merchant has run out of at a later date for the item's current price, or (in a more literal sense) to provide a service at a later date which cannot currently be provided due to rain or other inclement weather. The term is chiefly used only in North America. The former is particularly useful if the merchant was having a sale on the item, as the customer can return later and use the rain check to purchase the item at the sale price even if the item is no longer on sale.
2006-11-15 22:37:37 · answer #2 · answered by Derek Ikawa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's exactly what a "rain check" means. The expression originated when people would go to an outdoor venue like a sporting event or amusement park, somewhere where you have to buy a ticket to get in. If it rained, they could go get a "rain check" which was a little slip of paper saying that they'd be good for a free admission on another day. Most venues don't do rain checks anymore (you're just out of luck if you pay to get in somewhere and it starts raining on you.) However, I go to a car wash that still issues rain checks if it rains the day you get your car washed- they'll let you come back and get it re-done for free the next day it's sunny. The expression "rain check" is now used anytime someone invites you to go somewhere or do something and you unexpectedly have to cancel, or you can't make it. Good analysis of the meaning.
2006-11-15 14:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by fizzygurrl1980 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Rain checks" were originally issued for baseball games when the game could not be played due to rain. Patrons at the cancelled game would be given a "rain check" ticket which would give them entry to the makeup game.
Now it has come to mean many things. Stores use the term when they run out of a sale item but offer a coupon to be used later honoring the sale price. People use it when they must turn down an invitation because they already have plans (I'll have to take a rain check). And, of course, it is still used when rain forces postponement of an outdoor event.
2006-11-15 14:27:30 · answer #4 · answered by toff 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it means, "some other time." So if someone is asked to do something and they say they'll take a rain check. That means they'll do it but at another time. The expression comes from the old idea that on a rainy day you couldn't do much because it was raining and so you couldn't go outside and so people had plenty of time on a rainy day. While rain doesn't interfere with our lives anymore, we still use the expression meaning i'll take a rain check/i'll do it another time when i've got a free day.
2006-11-15 14:26:56 · answer #5 · answered by Zach 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is basically what it means. It originated when sporting events would get rained out, a person would receive a rain check for his or her ticket to return when the game was rescheduled. It basically means that I cannot do what we planned right now, but I will be sure that we do what we planned at some time in the near future.
2006-11-15 14:31:14 · answer #6 · answered by pdigoe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rain check originally comes from baseball, in that if the game is rained out, you are given a rain check to see the next day's game.
it now means that any time an item is out, you can get that item at the price quoted for the sale
2006-11-15 14:25:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you go into a store and they have a radio advertised for 200 and they have run out then they give you a "rain check" so that you can come back another time and get ti for the same sale price.
When someone says "I'll take a rain check" outside of that situation it means just what you said..."some other time."
2006-11-15 14:25:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes that is right. I believe it came from ball games, when the game is rained out and ticket holders are given a ticket for another game, called a "rain check." It means another time, just not right now. However, more frequently when used in social situations now it really means "I don't really want to do that with you, but I'm afraid of hurting your feelings, so I'll just pretent to want to do it another time." But sometimes it really means some other time.
2006-11-15 14:28:00 · answer #9 · answered by snapoutofit 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A rain check means that. You get a rain check when the rain stops your plans, you cash it in or collect on it when the sun shines again.
2006-11-15 14:31:50 · answer #10 · answered by relaxed 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well at a store a Rain Check means that when the product comes in you can take the paper that they gave you and you can get it for the sale price or what ever price it had on it.
2006-11-15 14:27:55 · answer #11 · answered by rainamem 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋