rubber check

Related to rubber check: Insufficient funds

rubber check

A check that draws upon a bank account which does not have enough funds to cover the amount. The check is called "rubber" because it "bounces" (i.e., it is not honored because of insufficient funds). Primarily heard in US. The man was finally arrested after years of writing rubber checks to businesses all around the country.
See also: check, rubber
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rubber check

A check drawn on an account without the funds to pay it, as in He's been handing out rubber checks right and left, but the police have caught up with him . The rubber alludes to the fact that, like rubber, the check "bounces," in this case back from the bank. [Slang; c. 1920]
See also: check, rubber
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

rubber cheque

a cheque that is returned unpaid. informal humorous
The expression plays on the idea of a cheque that ‘bounces’, or is unpaid because there are insufficient funds in the drawer's account to cover it.
See also: cheque, rubber
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

rubber (check)

n. a check that bounces; a forged check. (see also bounce.) The bank says I wrote a rubber check, but I’m sure there was enough money on deposit.
See also: check, rubber
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • rubber cheque
  • fly kites
  • gravity check
  • check up on (someone or something)
  • check
  • check on
  • check on (someone or something)
  • check that
  • check up
  • check over
References in periodicals archive
In addition to making its goods in the United States, Alliance Rubber checks a couple of other boxes on a scorecard of importance to many shoppers--it has been family owned for three generations, and it is run by a woman, president Bonnie Swayze.
Only one check written by a company for the amount of US$21.56 million exceeded the threshold for rubber checks at US$3.13 million during the month.
Last year, embarrassed by rubber checks and a House Post Office that gave away stamps but charged for cocaine, incumbents made a solemn vow: Hey, we'll cut the staff.
As a result, the rate of rubber checks bounced to a record low of 0.31% in May, according to the central bank here.
You might recall that Shaddock earlier was evicted from west Little Rock office space for aying the rent with three rubber checks.