cooked

/kʊkt/
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Heated and ready to eat, used as the regular past form of cooking, and in slang used for being exhausted, overwhelmed, in trouble, doomed, or for records that have been falsified.

Examples

  • The memo looked official, but the figures were cooked.
  • Without a backup plan, their chances were cooked.
  • After the fire, the marshmallows were cooked perfectly.
  • Those statistics were cooked to make the policy look successful.
  • She cooked the soup before the guests arrived.

Similar words

roasted
prepared
distorted
wrecked
screwed
fixed
overwhelmed
baked
falsified
heated

Meanings

Food prepared by heating

adjective
food
neutral
Heated enough to be ready to eat.

Examples

  • The cooked carrots were tender and sweet.
  • She prefers cooked vegetables over raw ones.
  • Make sure the cooked chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
  • We served cooked rice with the curry.
  • The recipe calls for cooked potatoes to be mashed.
  • He left the cooked steak on the counter too long.
  • The cooked eggs were perfect for the salad.

Similar words

Past tense of preparing food

verb
food
neutral
Prepared food by heating it.

Examples

  • She cooked the soup before the guests arrived.
  • They cooked the turkey for Thanksgiving.
  • I have cooked enough food for the whole week.
  • He cooked the pasta al dente.
  • We cooked the beans overnight.
  • The chef cooked a special sauce for the dish.
  • After the fire, the marshmallows were cooked perfectly.

Similar words

In trouble, exhausted, or doomed

adjective
slang
slang
In serious trouble, worn out, overwhelmed, or facing a negative outcome that now feels hard to avoid.

Examples

  • If the boss sees these numbers, we are cooked.
  • I studied all night and still felt cooked before the exam.
  • After three missed deadlines, the project was cooked.
  • My phone died during the storm, and I knew I was cooked.
  • He tried to explain the mistake, but the team was already cooked.
  • By the final mile of the race, I was completely cooked.
  • Without a backup plan, their chances were cooked.

Similar words

Falsified or manipulated

verb
business
informal
Dishonestly changed records, evidence, or numbers to make them tell a false story.

Examples

  • The accountant cooked the books to hide the losses.
  • Investigators found that the report had been cooked.
  • They cooked the data before sending it to investors.
  • The memo looked official, but the figures were cooked.
  • He was accused of having cooked the evidence.
  • The company denied that it had cooked its accounts.
  • Those statistics were cooked to make the policy look successful.

Similar words

Etymology

From the verb cook, from Old English coc, meaning a cook, and related to Latin coquere, meaning to cook. The slang sense grows from the idea of something being finished, used up, or past saving.

FAQ

What does cooked mean in slang?

In slang, cooked means exhausted, overwhelmed, in trouble, doomed, or facing a bad outcome that feels hard to avoid.

Can cooked mean tired?

Yes. Cooked can mean completely worn out, especially after work, stress, exercise, or a long day.

What does we are cooked mean?

We are cooked means the group is in serious trouble or probably cannot avoid a bad result.

Is cooked formal?

The food and verb uses are ordinary, but the trouble or exhaustion sense of cooked is slang.

What does cooked food mean?

Cooked food has been heated enough to be ready to eat.

Is cooked a verb form?

Yes. Cooked is the regular past tense and past participle of cook.

What does cooked the books mean?

Cooked the books means falsified accounts or financial records.

What is the opposite of slang cooked?

Depending on context, the opposite can be fine, safe, rested, recoverable, or viable.

Where does cooked come from?

Cooked comes from cook, and the slang sense extends the idea of being finished, used up, or past saving.

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