I always understood that you were an English speaking nation but I do remember seeing on sale in an airport an American into English dictionary. At the time I thought it was a joke. It has puzzled me for some time where this "off face" term came from. When "the" is not missing from anyting else that I know of.
How about "off base", referring to someone that is missing the point? How about "off key", referring to a singer or musician that is off musical key? How about off line, referring to someone or something that is not on track. I could go on and on with these but, as you see, there are many phrases in English that omit the "the", because it is understood by those on this side of the pond. That would be English, John, not King's English. We did away with kings, and "their English", over here some 235 years ago.
SRH
