doctor up
Alter to deceive
To doctor up something is to modify or enhance it, often by adding ingredients or making improvements: She doctored up the store-bought sauce with fresh herbs.
The phrase can imply either legitimate improvement or deceptive alteration—doctoring up a report might mean falsifying it.
The "up" intensifies the basic sense of "doctor" as to tamper with or treat.
Distort the truth
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- alterMake a modification
- manipulateControl through clever influence
- adulterateCorrupt by adding impurities
spike · contaminate · taint · lace · cut · dilute · corrupt · fudge
Invent or devise
- fakeNot the real thing
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- falsifyDistort the truth
invent · deceive · hoax · sham · phony · bogus · fraudulent · cook up
Increase in quality
- boostUpward push or increase
- enrichImprove by adding value
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- strengthenMake more robust
upgrade · elevate · refine · polish · perfect · better · remedy · invigorate
falsify
Distort the truth
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- alterMake a modification
- manipulateControl through clever influence
adulterate · spike · contaminate · taint · lace · cut · dilute · corrupt · fudge · rig
concoct
Invent or devise
- fakeNot the real thing
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
falsify · invent · deceive · hoax · sham · phony · bogus · fraudulent · cook up · make up
enhance
Increase in quality
strengthen · upgrade · elevate · refine · polish · perfect · better · remedy · invigorate · revitalize
exaggerate
Overstate beyond truth
- embroiderSew decorative patterns
- overstateRepresent as greater
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
color · inflate · hyperbolize · overdraw · overplay · overdo · amplify · elaborate · spin · sensationalize
season
Yearly division or series
infuse · sweeten · garnish · kick up · dress up · liven · perk up
doctor uppreserve
Protect from loss
leave alone · verify · authenticate · certify · validate
doctor upstrip down
Remove covering or components
tone down · simplify · water down · diminish · pare down
doctor upleave alone
Refrain from disturbing
leave be · hands off · don't touch · leave well enough alone
doctor, document, doctors, doctored, doctrine, documented, doctoring, documentation, documenting