rain cheque

[the 5niper]

Anyone know why the Americans call delaying something a "rain cheque"?
TIA

[Ethel]

A rain check.

From a planned outdoor activity - such as a picnic - dependent on the weather.

[4GS]

Taken from a website
A rain check was originally a voucher issued at baseball games that were rained out, allowing the spectators to return to watch another game

http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/index/200 7/02/

[badboy78]

it is believed to come from old sporting games, when the stadium if the games was cancelled due to rain would give you a valid ticket or 'rain check' for a nother game.

[andy-hughes]

It's only possible in a climate where fair weather is the nrom, and a rained-off game is unusual - so no chance of the system working over here!

The phrase 'Take a rain cheque' has now passed into common usage to mean a postponement of an event, but with a firm attention to re-schedule it.

[stewey]

The term is used in shopping also. Let's say Walmart is selling an item at $20 which usually costs $50. If they run out of the item they might give you a 'rain cheque' which means when they get more in you can purchase it at the sale price. A lot of sales will actually say: 'Sorry, no rain cheques'

[Bellringer]

Further to 4GS. My understanding is that it started with the Games in the Collesium at Rome before they could rig a cover. They were advertised as "weather permitting" so there may be something in it.