Meaning: To falsify financial records dishonestly
Hindi: हिसाब-किताब में हेरफेर करना
Synonyms: falsify accounts, manipulate records, commit fraud
Antonyms: keep honest records, audit truthfully
Asked in: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Graduate Level) · SSC CHSL 2020 T-1
cook the books in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Graduate Level) Idioms & Phrases
Which of the following options most accurately expresses the meaning of the idiom “to cook the books”?
Answer & explanation
Answer: D) To intentionally falsify corporate accounting records or balance sheets to deceive auditors and investors.
Meaning: to cook the books = to falsify a company's accounts dishonestly *(हिसाब-किताब में हेराफेरी करना, खातों में गड़बड़ी करना)*.
Books here are account books; to cook them is to "prepare" the figures to look better than they are.
Origin.
*Cook* has meant "to tamper with, to doctor" since the 17th century — dressing up raw facts the way a cook dresses up raw food.
Why the others are wrong.
#B Analysing literature for a thesis *(शोध हेतु साहित्य का विश्लेषण)* — takes *books* literally; the idiom for deep study is *to hit the books*.
#B Drafting creative recipes *(नए व्यंजन बनाना)* — takes *cook* literally; the idiom has nothing to do with food.
#B Preserving old manuscripts *(पांडुलिपियों
Examples
- “The accountant was arrested for cooking the books.”
cook the books – questions
What is the meaning of cook the books in Hindi?
cook the books means “हिसाब-किताब में हेरफेर करना” in Hindi. In English: To falsify financial records dishonestly
What are the synonyms of cook the books?
Synonyms of cook the books: falsify accounts, manipulate records, commit fraud.
What is the opposite of cook the books?
Antonyms of cook the books: keep honest records, audit truthfully.
Has cook the books been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – cook the books has been asked 2 times in SSC exams: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Graduate Level), SSC CHSL 2020 T-1.