cook up

British  

verb

1. informal to concoct or invent (a story, alibi, etc)

2. to prepare (a meal), esp quickly

3. slang to prepare (a drug) for use by heating, as by dissolving heroin in a spoon

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noun

1. (in the Caribbean) a dish consisting of mixed meats, rice, shrimps, and sometimes vegetables

cook up Idioms  

1. Fabricate, concoct, as in She's always cooking up some excuse. [Colloquial; mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

To do so, I stay away from bistros in fancy neighborhoods, which charge too much and often cook up mediocre food.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Perhaps this is because religion doesn’t seem to be among the ingredients that contemporary Victor Frankensteins are using to cook up and refine their creations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Then, after the tour, the guests are able to cook up some of what they have found.

From Salon • May 30, 2024

The only food and water Naveed will see for the next week is provided by local volunteers who cook up and dole out rice, beans and soup every day.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2023

That he was gonna cook up a fancy supper for Mama with candles on the table and Willie Nelson on the radio and maybe she’d wear that red dress he loved so much.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor