Question 1

What does "cook the books" mean?

Accepted Answer

To falsify financial records to hide losses or fraud.

Question 2

How do you use "cook the books" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

The company was found guilty of cooking the books to inflate its profits.

Question 3

Is "cook the books" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"cook the books" is informal — used mainly in casual conversation. Used in accounting and business fraud contexts; often implies illegal behavior.