WordLens

cook up

1 of 1verb
/kʊk ʌp/
Forms:cooks up,cooking up,cooked up,cooked up
1

to make up something that is not true, like a story or excuse

transitive
  • He tried to cook up an excuse for being late to the meeting.
  • Children sometimes cook up elaborate tales to explain their actions when caught misbehaving.
  • During the interrogation, the suspect attempted to cook up a false alibi.
  • Conspiracy theorists often cook elaborate stories up without factual basis.
  • Journalists are trained to verify information and avoid cooking sensational stories up.
2

to prepare food quickly, often in an informal or creative manner

transitive
  • She cooked up a quick dinner after a long day at work.
  • He cooked up a delicious stew using leftovers from the fridge.
  • With only a few ingredients, she managed to cook up a tasty meal in just 15 minutes.
  • They cooked up a surprise breakfast for their friend’s birthday.
  • She cooked up a hearty soup to warm up on a chilly evening.
Synonyms: