Cook the books Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To deliberately change financial records to make a business appear more successful or stable than it really is, usually for illegal or dishonest reasons.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and idiomatic; commonly used in business, legal, and news contexts. Always implies illegal or dishonest activity, not just minor errors. Can be used in the negative ('we don't cook the books'). Often refers to accounting fraud.
Example Sentences
The company was caught trying to cook the books last year.
basic
It is illegal to cook the books to hide losses.
basic
They refused to cook the books for their boss.
basic
He went to jail because he decided to cook the books.
natural
Are you sure no one tried to cook the books in this company?
natural
Everyone suspected the accountant had cooked the books, but no one could prove it.
natural