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# creative accounting

noun phrase (creative accounting, uncountable)

«creative accounting» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism) dishonest or misleading ways of showing money and accounts, to make a business look richer than it is or to hide money.

### In the lessons

Used in news, business and jokes to describe tricks with numbers that may not be illegal but are dishonest; often humorous. All regions.

### Examples

- The company's profits came from creative accounting.
- The judge found the creative accounting was actually fraud.
- Dad joked that my pocket-money chart was creative accounting.
- Creative accounting made the debts disappear on paper.
- The football club was fined for creative accounting.
- «That's creative accounting,» said the teacher when my sums didn't add up.

### Note

Not praise for creativity. It means tricky or dishonest number work. In maths problems, check the numbers add up.