Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) the ideal, the very thing.

1844		C. Bailey Reclaimed Student 26: So all wo want is a priest; your long face is just the checker.
c.1850		F.M. Whitcher Widow Bedott Papers (1883) 120: ‘That’s the checker,’ said Teeters, with a terrible oath.
1875		Jasper Wkly Courier (IN) 10 Sept. 3/3: That’s the chequer! Let’s all unite and advise Sergeant bates to get married.
1881		River Press (Fort Benton, MT) 7 Dec. 7/2: That’s the checker — I have the honour to introduce [etc.].
1891		Eve. World (NY) 3 July 2/2: That’s it — that’s the checker! chuckled the good man as he rubbed his hands together.
1902		Richmond Planet (VA) 31 May 1/1: ‘Yes, they’ve gone like hot cakes. That’s the checker for boys,’ said the little fellow with a businesslike air.
1911		H. Quick Yellowstone Nights 97: I thought ’twas about the checker f’r a man with three boys.... One f’r each o’ them, you understand, an’ the home place f’r mother if anything happened.
1921		Eve. Star (Wash., DC) 22 May 6/4: ‘That’s just it — just the chcker,’ he hastened to say.
1935		A.C. Bessie Dwell in ther Wilderness 209: That will be just the checker; then I can just lay on my back and be supported.
1942		Common Ground 2:3 23: ‘Let’s end each verse with: While over and over rings out this refrain, “Job Colby is digging us out again!” ’ ‘Just the checker!’ Our poem was published, to her delight, and aroused much comment.