Green’s Dictionary of Slang

living adj.

(US black/Aus.) an intensifier.

1788		J. O’Keeffe Farmer 17: Just as your Country Folks [swear] ‘Odibodikins’, ‘Gadzookens’, and ‘by the living Jingo’.
1831		Quizzical Gaz. 27 Aug. 6/2: I’ve heard of it in ballad lingo, / And swear it by the living jingo.
1854		E.R. Sullivan Bungalow or Tent 259: I could not help fancying that the carcase of the boar had been animated by the soul of St Gengulphus, or ‘the living jingo’ as he is more familiarly termed.
1877		S.O. Jewett Deephaven 176: ‘I’m telling you the living truth,’ said Captain Smith.
1902		P.L. Dunbar Jest of Fate (1903) 58: Hit’s de livin’ trufe.
1919		V. Marshall World of Living Dead (1969) 124: I’ll cut the livin’ Christ out o’ yer flamin’ soul.
1953		W. Fisher Waiters 129: There began in his breast an emotional turmoil such as he had never before experienced. And he said to himself: ‘I’m a livin’ bitch’.
1971		K. Gilbert Cherry Pickers III ii: By the livin’ Jesus I’m gunna die as a man!
1998		D. Jenkins Rude Behavior 21: ‘I mean, shit, half the time, you can’t get kids to do what you tell ‘em to do. Not today. No livin’ way’ .

In phrases