Idioms

cook the books | cook the accounts

This page is about the idiom cook the books | cook the accounts

Meaning

If someone cooks the books, or cooks the accounts, they keep inaccurate accounts for a business, usually in order to pay less tax.

For example

  • Their accountant was charged with cooking the books, and now he's in jail.

  • I found this website that shows you how to cook the accounts, but I'd never try doing it.

Quick Quiz

He cooked the books of his business, and now he

a. has been arrested

b. can't read them

c. has to eat them
a) has been arrested b) can't read them c) has to eat them
cook the books | cook the accounts

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey