Cook-the-books Definition
verb
(idiomatic) To manipulate accounting information, especially illegally.
Enron Corp., once a major U.S. corporation, is now famous for cooking the books.
Wiktionary
(idiomatic, by extension) To falsify an account of an event.
Wiktionary
Origin of Cook-the-books
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From the mid-17th century. A metaphor for cooking, whereby ingredients are changed, altered and improved by the process. Thus financial statements can also be so modified to the benefit of the "cook".
From Wiktionary
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