refrain and restrain

[Sophie]

Hi !
Could you tell me the difference between "refrain" and "restrain"?
I don't know why we use "refrain" not "restrain" in this sentence:
Please REFRAIN from smoking until the plane is airborne.
Thank you very much.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Alan]

Hi Sophie,

'Refrain from' has the meaning of desist from and suggests that you stop yourself from doing something. It is used in the sort of notice you have given and is simply a polite/formal way of saying: Don't smoke ...

'Restrain' suggests restrict or limit or control. It is used in expressions like: restrain your laughter (not laugh too much) restrain your temper (control your anger) restrain your feelings (manage your feelings).

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Sophie]

Thank you very much, Alan !!
I forgot that we just use "restrain sb from doing sth", not "restrain from doing sth". So it's the main difference between the two words.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.