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"The Galloping Crud" is a term I grew up hearing, and it refers to those general not-too-serious cold-like or flu-like minor illnesses everyone got, especially in the winter. I grew up in northern Illinois, and as an adult I lived in Wisconsin. My father was from central Michigan, and he used the expression too, so I know it's in use in those places.
Now I live in Pittsburgh, and I have The Galloping Crud. Nobody I've talked to here has ever heard the term before, but they all *instantly* knew exactly what it meant.
What are some other expressions for it? And is it a regional term?
It doesn't gallop here, but in south central Alaska we get The Crud, sometimes modified by the name of the nearest town, e.g. The Homer Crud. In fact, I'm enjoying it right now. I don't know who brought the expression here, nor when; as far as I can remember it was here when we arrived thirty years ago. Basically the same usage that you cite: usually but not exclusively respiratory, not terrifically serious. Always a valid excuse for not attending some function, public or private. I don't believe that we used it in NY State, but my wife is not so sure.
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