"Snatch a nap"/"take a nap"/"have a nap"

Can we say "to snatch a nap"? If it's possible then Is there any difference between "snatch a nap", "take a nap" and "have a nap"?

Solution 1:

Can we say "to snatch a nap"?

As far as I know this would be a new idiom. But, well this kinda thing is where new idioms come from so I can't really say no.

ngrams has this since before the 1860's. It's just had very minor usage compared to the others.

snatch

verb

1. quickly seize (something) in a rude or eager way.
   "she snatched a cookie from the plate"
   synonyms: grab, seize, take hold of, get one's hands on, take, pluck;

noun

1. an act of snatching or quickly seizing something. "a quick snatch of breath"

2. WEIGHTLIFTING the rapid raising of a weight from the floor to above the head in one movement.

google.com

Snatch a nap sounds catchy. It would seem to mean that not only was the sleep short (a nap) it happened quickly (you didn't take hours to fall asleep).

Is there any difference between "snatch a nap", "take a nap" and "have a nap"?

If my interpretation of it is correct then yes there is a slight difference. Until it catches on though I wouldn't count on everyone seeing it exactly the same.

Solution 2:

You have Herman Melville on your side. From White jacket; or, The world in a man-of-war (1850):

But most of this side, also, is occupied by the carpenters, sail-makers, barbers, and coopers. In short, so few are the corners where you can snatch a nap during daytime in a frigate....

We have the equivalent term "grab a nap," which the Ngram viewer can trace back to 1924. Both of these locutions imply that the rest time is stolen from other activities on the fly. Taking or having a nap may be done at your leisure and at any time.