english
                    
                    
                    
                        1
                           general:: 
                           Force the cancellation or postponement of some event owing to bad weather. For example, Our picnic was rained out, but we hope to have it next week. [1920s]
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        American Heritage Idioms
                    
                    
                    
                        2
                           general:: 
                           Phrase(s): rain something out  [for the weather] to spoil something by raining.  •  Oh, the weather looks awful. I hope it doesn’t rain the picnic out.  •  It’s starting to sprinkle now. Do you think it will rain out the ball game?
                           
                           
                           
                           
                        
    
                       
                    
                        
                        
                        
                    
 
                    
                        McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs