cook the books

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.

Example Sentences

They are preparing to falsify data and cook the books in order to sell their schemes to the American people.

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In the last two days of direct and cross-examination, Cohen has woven the tale of a nefarious scheme hatched by Trump, a tabloid smear merchant, women with whom the married Trump had sexual relationships along with some lawyers and accountants to illegally suppress information and cook the books to aid Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.

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Watch: Trump's hush-money case asks, did he 'cook the books'?

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"They agreed to cook the books."

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So, he added, “they agreed to cook the books and make it look like the payment was actually income, payment for services rendered.”

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