I think I'll translate this question a little so that you can get more help: =================================================== The question: Is the phrase "cook up" complimentary or derogatory? This phrase means "to make something up". But in this sentence it goes, "He cooked up a wonderful way to surprise his wife." Now I'm confused. Is it good or bad? =================================================== My answer: The way I see it, when we "cook up a plan", we very often do it secretly. It is the stealth in it that goes against the belief that sees honesty as a virtue. So if you ask me, the overall meaning of your sentence is still complimentary despite the fact that "cook up" is derogatory. 我的看法是： 我們在「設計個局 cook up a plan」的時候，常常是秘密進行的。就是這份偷偷摸摸違反了視誠實為美德的信仰。所以依我看，你這句的整體意義是好的，雖然 cook up 本身的意義還是壞的。

你好linky, Usually a story or an excuse is rather cooked up ，不是好的, more likely to be a lie, but when it is used with a "surprise" as in your example than surely 它是好的！；）

I agree with antman. The verb-phrase "to cook up" is normally derogatory, but it is often used in a playful sense, as in this example. So the overall sentence is acutally positive.

Good or bad, it depends on what is the "wonderful way".

It means that he thought of a way to surprise his wife.