cook up (something)

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

• beat the living daylights out of
• beat the living daylights out of someone
• be at the mercy of
• be at the mercy of someone
• be at the mercy of something
• beat the pants off
• beat the rap
• be at the receiving end
• beat the socks off
• beat the system
• beat the tar out of
• beat the tar out of someone
• be at the wheel
• beat to a pulp
• beat to it
• beat to the punch
• beat to within an inch of life
• beat to within an inch of their life
• beat up
• be at wits' end
• beat your brains out
• beat your breast
• be at your wits' end
• beat you to it
• be au fait with