cook up

cook something up (with someone)

Fig. to arrange or plan to do something with someone. (The something is usually the word something. See also cook something up.) I tried to cook something up with Karen for Tuesday. I want to cook up something with John. Let's see if we can cook something up.

See also: cook, up

cook something up (with someone)

Fig. to arrange or plan to do something with someone. (The something is usually the word something. See also cook something up.) I tried to cook something up with Karen for Tuesday. I want to cook up something with John. Let's see if we can cook something up.

See also: cook, up

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cook up something also cook something up

to invent something to produce a result you want Freddy cooked up a great story so that Jane wouldn't know she was on her way to a surprise party for her birthday.

Usage notes: often cook up means to invent something that is dishonest or illegal: I'd like to find out who cooked this scheme up.

Etymology: based on the idea of cooking food to make a meal

See also: cook, up