Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to cook the books
idiom
/tə ˈkʊk ðə bʊks/
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Definition
To manipulate financial records dishonestly in order to present a false picture of a company’s financial health.
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Examples
- The accountant was caught trying to cook the books to hide the company’s losses.
- After the scandal broke, it became clear that the executives had been cooking the books for years.
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Meaning
This phrase refers to the illicit practice of altering financial data to make a company appear more profitable or stable than it actually is. It often involves the intentional misrepresentation of earnings, expenses, or other financial metrics.
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Synonyms
- falsify records
- manipulate accounts
- commit fraud
- engage in financial deception