Alternate girls

[María José]

I was watching Smallvile with my daughter the other day and they were talking about the typical groupings in a high school: the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders... but then they went on to include one I had never heard before: alternate girls.
Help anybody?

[chileno]

Probably the girls with lesser attributes?

[Rusty]

The cheerleaders have alternates (girls who didn't make "first string," but practice with the cheerleaders and know the routines). These girls could be termed as 'alternate girls', or just 'alternates'. I would also call them "stand-ins" or "back-ups." They could replace a cheerleader who is injured or sick at a moment's notice.

Without more context, though, I'm not sure if this is what was meant.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

what the hell are the nerds and the jocks?

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por ROBINDESBOIS

what the hell are the nerds and the jocks?

creo que la cosa va así:

nerds = mateos
jocks = atletas

[laepelba]

Robin - it might just be me, but I find your choice of expletive a bit strong for this forum. "What the heck..." might be less offensive.

I would say that nerds could be defined in a couple of ways: students who are completely unaware of social norms, dress strange, don't really identify with a particular group, often boringly studious. My colleagues and I joke about all of us being "math nerds". We love to sit around having (boring) conversations about mathematics. But we're much happier being math nerds than our science colleagues who are truly nerds.

Jocks are the athletes. I have never been one, so I don't have any comments on this group.

Maria - are you sure it was "alternate" and not "alternative" or something similar? I haven't heard of this classification of kids, but I would guess that they might be the kinds of kids who listen to alternative music (rock) styles, maybe like punk-rockers or kids who are into the "gothic" style.

Does any of that make sense? Do other estadounidenses agree?

[Rusty]

jocks = atlétas
nerds = frikis (freaks) - personas que tienen las gafas espesas, tragan los libros, les encantan los ordenadores hasta la exageración, carecen de comportamiento social, etc.

[poli]

Escrito originalmente por María José

I was watching Smallvile with my daughter the other day and they were talking about the typical groupings in a high school: the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders... but then they went on to include one I had never heard before: alternate girls.
Help anybody?

I can only guess María, but I think aternate girls are those who attempt to be non-conforming. They are usually creative kids less likely to go to the game, but somewhat more likely use black lipstick or dress like Lady Gaga, and by doing so--conforming without even knowing it.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

De dónde viene la palabra Jocks? Never heard before.

[Ambarina]

Escrito originalmente por ROBINDESBOIS

De dónde viene la palabra Jocks? Never heard before.

Creo que viene de "jockstrap", un suspensorio.