Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. absolute, total.

1963		M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 35: The tourists will be thrilled to their socks thinking they’ve seen a real, hope-to-die dope fiend.
1973		E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 46: ‘What kind of parole officer have you got?’ ‘A hope-to-die asshole.’.
1986		J. Ellroy Suicide Hill 197: Bobby and Duane are hope-to-die trash.
1997		E. Little Another Day in Paradise 152: The long hard road that being a hope-to-die dope fiend means.
1999		E. Bunker Mr Blue 389: What is called a ‘hope-to-die’ dope fiend – he was the kind that wants more than merely feeling good. He wants to keep fixing until his chin rests on his chest and he is oblivious of the world around him.

2. closest, most trusted, best.

1980

E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 25: Beverley, she a righteous hope-to-die partner.

see wish to... v.

(US) a strong excl. used to underline the veracity or sincerity of the speaker’s statement.

1923		C. Greer-Petrie Angeline Doin’ Society 13: I know you’ll think I’m a l’ar, but I hope to my die, if ’tain’t the truth [DARE].
1936		WV Rev. Aug. 347: There is hardly an old man or woman that does not drop an expletive or two into almost every conversation. . . Here are some of my favorites . . Hope my die (Hope I may die) [DARE].
1959		A. Anderson ‘Signifying’ in Lover Man 26: ‘Will you be here tomorrow?’ she asked when I was leaving. ‘Sho I will.’ ‘Promise?’ ‘And hope to die if I don’t, honey.

(US) a strong excl. used to underline the speaker’s statement.

1928		R. Carr Rampant Age 135: ‘Will you take a chance on a blind date?’ ‘Hope to shout!’ Paul would also have taken his chances with a gila monster.
1956		W.L. McAtee Some Dialect NC 23: Hope to tell you, I [...] saying, of emphatic asservation, ‘I hope to tell you, it’s cold’ [DARE].
1967		in DARE.