Kwasi Kwarteng

Cutting VAT is a classic case of shutting the stable door, when the horse has already galloped a couple of furlongs down the road.

British Politician

And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud.

Used mainly in horse racing, 'furlong' is not common in everyday language.

'Furlong' is an old-fashioned measure, dating back to the English medieval farming system.

A furlong is part of the imperial measurement system and is not used in metric countries.