cook the books

Idioms  

1. Falsify a company's financial records, as in An independent audit showed that they've been cooking the books for years. This slangy phrase was first recorded in 1636.

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Example Sentences

At age 63, he was convicted of securities fraud, conspiracy and filing false reports with regulators, after his former chief financial officer testified that Mr. Ebbers directed him to cook the books.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2020

But you can "cook the books", according to Mr Zhou, if your movie is hiring international actors or even set and costume designers.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2018

So the first thing you had to learn was to cook the books, adding the odd percentage point here and there until they made sense.

From The Guardian • Jun. 8, 2016

“If they’re looking for someone who is going to cook the books, that’s a real problem.”

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2014

Nothing at all, if you cook the books.'

From Menotah A Tale of the Riel Rebellion by Henham, Ernest G.