slang. [Of doubtful origin; but prob. a. Pers. and Urdū chīz ‘thing.’ Yule says such expressions used to be common among young Anglo-Indians as ‘My new Arab is the real chīz,’ i.e., ‘the real thing.’] The right or correct thing: applied to anything good, first-rate in quality, genuine, pleasant or advantageous.
1818. Lond. Guide (cited in Slang Dict., 1873).
1847. Alb. Smith, Man in Moon, I. 201. Admired ‘Pets of the Ballet’ … in a print-shop window. Thought them the cheese as works of art.
c. 1850. Thackeray, Codlingsby, iii. ‘You look like a Prince in it, Mr. Lint.’… ‘It is the cheese,’ replied Mr. Lint.
