1 B1 informal
To prepare or cook a meal, often quickly or informally.
"I'll cook up some pasta if you're hungry."
separable
cook up
B1 informal separable transitive
To prepare a meal, or to invent a plan, excuse, or story — often one that is clever, cunning, or dishonest.
In plain English
To make a meal quickly, or to think up a sneaky plan or excuse.
What does "cook up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
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.
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To create or produce something (an idea, a piece of music, etc.) rapidly.
"The team cooked up a new marketing concept overnight."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cook something up until it is ready.
Actually means
To make a meal quickly, or to think up a sneaky plan or excuse.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "cook up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
scheme plan excuse story meal alibi idea
How to conjugate "cook up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cook up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cooks up
he/she/it
Past simple
cooked up
yesterday
Past participle
cooked up
have + pp
-ing form
cooking up
continuous
Hear "cook up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cook up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "cook up"
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Keep exploring
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