IdiomFood & Drink
English
Englishcook the books
Meaning: To falsify figures, especially accounts.
Example: “The treasurer had been cooking the books for years.”
Origin: "Cook" in the old sense of tampering with or dressing something up. "Cooking" accounts is recorded from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 鯖を読む (Saba o yomu) Literally: To read the mackerel
More English idioms
- out of one's league Too good, attractive or expensive for someone to have a chance with.
- no room to swing a cat A very small or cramped space.
- a snake in the grass A treacherous person who pretends to be a friend.
- give one's eyeteeth for something To want something very badly.
- a stroke of luck A sudden, unexpected piece of good fortune.
- blush to the roots of one's hair To go very red with embarrassment.
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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
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