to cook the books

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 328: Dishonesty at Work.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 328. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

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This episode is called “Dishonesty at Work.” “Dishonesty” is someone who is not honest – who lies at work. We’ll listen to a dialogue between Shane and Amina over some problems with one of the employees at work. Let’s get started.

Amina: Have you heard the latest news?

Shane: No, what is it?

Amina: Charlie was fired last Friday after the company found out that he had been cooking the books for over six months and had embezzled more than $50,000.

Shane: Charlie? I don’t believe it! He is the most upstanding person I know. I can imagine him