Cook the books

Meaning

Falsify financial records in order to misrepresent figures.

Usage

Used to accuse fraud or corruption in finance and government.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Tampering with the accounting ledgers, often called books.

Used in the 19th century when paper ledgers were the standard accounting tool.