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Which one of the above is the correct, or can I use both? Or is there any better way to say that?

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You can use both. What about them makes you think either is incorrect? – Matt Эллен Dec 23 '11 at 9:12
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Maybe see here. Also, "get some rest" is much more common than "have some rest." – rdhs Dec 23 '11 at 9:19
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. – Benjamin Dec 23 '11 at 11:32
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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

4 Answers

up vote 10 down vote accepted

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.

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up vote 2 down vote

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

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up vote 1 down vote

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.

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up vote 1 down vote

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.

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