English Explanatory Dictionary

cook the books

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To manipulate accounting information, especially illegally.
  2. To falsify an account of an event.

Pronunciation

en-au-cook the books.ogg

Word forms

cook the books cooks the books cooking the books cooked the books

Etymology

From the mid-17th century. A metaphor based on cooking, whereby ingredients are changed, altered and improved. Thus financial statements can also be so modified to the benefit of the "cook".

Related words

off the books creative accounting double bookkeeping goose is cooked Hollywood accounting Hollywood bookkeeping white-collar crime
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