Nap

A short sleep taken to restore energy and alertness.

Reach for it when naming a short period of sleep taken during ordinary waking hours

A brief afternoon nap left him refreshed for rehearsal.

• playful

  forty winks

  a light idiom suits casual conversation

  not when The idiom is imprecise and somewhat old-fashioned.

• playful

  snooze

  an informal short sleep is meant

  not when Snooze can also mean delaying an alarm.

• everyday

  doze

  light or unplanned sleep is central

  not when A doze may be too shallow to restore energy.

• everyday

  siesta

  a customary early-afternoon rest is intended

  not when Siesta carries a time and cultural pattern.

• warm

  rest

  recovery matters without claiming sleep

  not when Rest can occur while fully awake.

• professional

  power nap

  a deliberately brief alertness boost is meant

  not when Power nap sounds optimized rather than leisurely.

• wakefulness
• alertness
• insomnia

• afternoon nap

  An afternoon nap restored enough energy for the evening shift.

• take a nap

  She chose to take a nap before the long drive.

• brief nap

  A brief nap cleared the fog from his attention.