Crossword Genius

Playing tabs in a refrain (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abstain

'refrain' is the definition.
('abstain' can be a synonym of 'refrain')

'playing tabs in a' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tabs'+'in'+'a'='tabsina'
'tabsina' is an anagram of 'ABSTAIN'.

(Other definitions for abstain that I've seen before include "Pass" , "Refuse to vote" , "Formally decline to vote" , "Withhold one's vote" , "Desist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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