old saw vs refrain

old saw

noun
  • A cliché, saying, or overused expression; especially a proverb or maxim. 

refrain

noun
  • A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying. 

  • The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza. 

verb
  • To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. 

  • To abstain from (food or drink). 

How often have the words old saw and refrain occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )