Fresh off

You are right in both regards, oristarA, though "caucus" has no "e". "Fresh off" is a colloquialism that you have interpreted correctly.

es

"Fresh off" = "Fresh off the grill"

In case you are wondering about the "off" part.

e.g. "This burger is fresh off the grill."

In the context you quoted it's a mataphor in which "his disappointing third-place finish" is the grill.

So one way to re-write it would be: "Right after his disappointing third-place finish...."

Thanks D'artagna.

Craven de Kere, your explanation was excellent.

super 7boi, I guess you mean "caucuses".

"Fresh off the boat" is another common use -- a recent immigrant, someone who just got off the boat from their own country. That has a connotation of clueless, not knowing what to do in America.

I don't think that use has anything to do with the example you cite, just FYI.

It definitely does have to do with the cited example! It's another way to illustrate why "off" is being used.

The prepositions in idioms and phrasal verbs can be hell for an ESL student.