ten minutes of

[Kotfor]

What does it mean?

Within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert

1) 10 minutes before
2) 10 minutes after

[5jj]

It could be either; the context should make it clear.

[Kotfor]

I want you to stop selling the tickets within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert.

How to understand it?

[5jj]

I want you to stop selling the tickets within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert.

How to understand it?

Common sense tells us that it is probably 'before'. It's an unnatural sentence, in my opinion.

[bhaisahab]

I want you to stop selling the tickets within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert.

How to understand it?

Nobody would say that.

[Kotfor]

I quite agree. But I can see that it could be possible to stop selling the tickets within 10 minutes after the beginning. I also think that it means before but not because of common sense, even. I found this definition in a dictionary

10.	( US ) before the hour of: a quarter of nine

So, it must be "before". However, as I understand it is not something easy to understand which means that it's better to avoid using it.

[5jj]

I quite agree. But I can see that it could be possible to stop selling the tickets within 10 minutes after the beginning. I also think that it means before but not because of common sense, even. I found this definition in a dictionary

10.	( US ) before the hour of: a quarter of nine

This appears to be a definition of 'of' rather than 'within ... of'

So, it must be "before".

No. It's ambiguous.

However, as I understand it is not something easy to understand which means that it's better to avoid using it.

Quite. as bhai pointed out, nobody would say it.

[Kotfor]

Nobody would say that.

I can't say for "nobody" but it seems like the guys from Of | Define Of at Dictionary.com find it possible.

5. used to indicate separation, as in time or space: within a mileof the town ; within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert

I am at a loss.

PS: Oh, you find "within" to be ambigous. I see.let's get rid if it. I am interested in "of"

I want you to stop selling the tickets in ten minutes of the beginning of the concert.

[5jj]

I can't say for "nobody" but it seems like the guys from Of | Define Of at Dictionary.com find it possible.

5. used to indicate separation, as in time or space: within a mileof the town ; within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert

I am at a loss.

Bhai and I have been talking about your particular sentence: I want you to stop selling the tickets within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert. The following one is possible.

As the conductor stepped on to the stage, the audience clapped politely. However, within ten minutes of the beginning of the concert, they were jeering and booing.