"Take a rest" or "have some rest"?

Question

Which one of the these is the correct, or can I use both?

take a rest
have some rest

Or is there any better way to say that?

You can use both. What about them makes you think either is incorrect? — Matt E. Эллен, Dec 23 '11 at 09:12
Maybe see here. Also, "get some rest" is much more common than "have some rest." — Chel, Dec 23 '11 at 09:19
Although dictionaries define "rest" as countable, I find it an odd thing and would prefer "some rest" to "a rest". But again, I am not a native speaker. — neydroydrec, Dec 23 '11 at 11:32
Ngrams says that "get some rest" is more American and "have a rest" is more British. But everybody will understand both. — Peter Shor, Jun 19 '12 at 15:36
@Peter I'd say there's a slightly different meaning. 'Have a rest' seems more tailored-to-the-occasion, say after digging for 4 hours solid; 'get some rest' seems less localised: 'I've been doing 12-hour shifts for two weeks. I really need to get some rest.' Though I'm sure they're fairly interchangeable. Ah – I've just read Colin's and 200's answers. — Edwin Ashworth, Jan 28 '14 at 12:43

score 23 · Accepted Answer · edited May 18 '12 at 08:53

In my (UK) idiolect "have a rest" and "get some rest" are idiomatic, not the two phrases you give.

I find a slight difference in meaning. To me, "have a rest" is neutral: I am going to rest, with no implication about how much I need it.

"Get some rest" implies that I have a particular need for rest: either I have been short of rest recently, or some major activity is expected so that I need to be well-rested before it, or there is very little time available for resting, so I will avail myself of it.

score 15 · Answer 2 · answered May 18 '12 at 01:16

Common American English would use "take a break" or "get some rest", using "rest" as a noun. It is almost never used as "take a rest" by native English speakers in the USA. However, this phrase is very commonly taught to and used by EFL/ESL learners in Asia.

score 7 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 19 '12 at 13:05

7

I would never use take a rest. Rest itself means physically taking time relaxing, so I would rather use rest just as a verb. And as a noun I would say get some rest.

edited Jun 19 '12 at 13:05

answered Apr 16 '12 at 07:49

Bobby

71

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 16 '12 at 22:32

6

I would say "take a break" for a brief interval, and "get some rest" for a longer period.

answered Apr 16 '12 at 22:32

200_success

6,958

Have a KitKat.. – mplungjan Jan 28 '14 at 09:38

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 11 '15 at 12:05

3

To me (UK):

have a rest is synonymous with take a break
get some rest is synonymous with get some sleep (or at least try to sleep)

More formally, rest as a countable noun means "break"; whereas rest as an uncountable noun means "sleep".

answered Nov 11 '15 at 12:05

AndyT

14,793

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 28 '14 at 07:43

0

So to the people that say "have a break/rest"...Do you also say "I need to have a test" or "I need to take a test", or "I need a test"? What about "I need to have a piss" vs. "I need to take a piss"? "To take a 'noun' " in most locations is acceptable.

answered Jan 28 '14 at 07:43

Bryan Ladd

11

1

In my family, we leave a piss. And we don't want to know what you do with yours. ;-) – MetaEd Jan 28 '14 at 21:10
I hope you are joking. I've never been to any part of the world where people say "leave a piss" unless they are pointing out that the saying is a euphemism. – Bryan Ladd Jan 29 '14 at 00:59
I don't see a euphemism there. A euphemism would mean changing piss to something more socially acceptable. And yes, that's what we say. – MetaEd Jan 29 '14 at 15:21
1

This is a comment (or possibly question), not an answer. – AndyT Nov 11 '15 at 11:59

suriyan · Answer 7 · 2014-01-28T11:20:21.057

-1

the first one is similar to an order, the following one is like an obligation

edited Jan 28 '14 at 11:20

answered Jan 28 '14 at 08:18

suriyan

119
1
1
4

"Take a rest" or "have some rest"?

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