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

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

But once the data is out there - posted online - it becomes much harder for the backroom cheats to cook the books.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2015

“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

Rather, schools cook the books in an effort to look poor.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2014

Nothing at all, if you cook the books.'

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