cook up
To make a meal quickly, or to think up a sneaky plan or excuse.
Meanings
To prepare or cook a meal, often quickly or informally.
"I'll cook up some pasta if you're hungry."
To invent or devise a plan, scheme, story, or excuse, often in a cunning or dishonest way.
"He cooked up an elaborate excuse for missing the meeting."
"They've cooked up this whole scheme."
— Approximate paraphrase widely attributed to political commentary; specific sourcing unverifiable — set to null for safety.
To create or produce something (an idea, a piece of music, etc.) rapidly.
"The team cooked up a new marketing concept overnight."
The figurative sense (inventing a plan or scheme) is very common and often implies deception or cunning — 'They cooked up a story' suggests fabrication. The literal culinary sense is also natural and common. Both senses are informal.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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