cook

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 to prepare food by heating it, for example by boiling, baking or frying it: [V] Where did you learn to cook? * [VN] What's the best way to cook trout? * Who's going to cook supper? * Add the onion and cook for three minutes. * [VNN, VN] He cooked me lunch. * He cooked lunch for me. 2 [V] (of food) to be prepared by boiling, baking, frying, etc: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. 3 [V] (be cooking) (informal) to be planned secretly: Everyone is being very secretive-there's something cooking. IDIOMS be cooking with gas (AmE, informal) to be doing sth very well and successfully cook the books (informal) to change facts or figures dishonestly or illegally: His accountant had been cooking the books for years. cook sb's goose (informal) to ruin sb's chances of success PHRASALVERBS cook sth<->up (informal) to invent sth, especially in order to deceive sb SYNCONCOCT: to cook up a story noun a person who cooks food or whose job is cooking: John is a very good cook (= he cooks well). * Who was the cook (= who cooked the food)? * She was employed as a cook in a hotel. compareCHEF IDIOMS too many cooks spoil the broth (saying) if too many people are involved in doing sth, it will not be done well