They're calling it a "downpayment" and a reward for employees who have stuck it out at the firm.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dealbreaker] Reference

Development Minister Dirk Niebel said the money was a "downpayment" for the success of the stabilization process there.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Earth Times Online Newspaper] Reference

Obama has staked quite a bit of his administration on making a "downpayment" on a government takeover of the healthcare system.    From Wordnik.com.  [Patterico's Pontifications] Reference

We're not sure what would be in such a downpayment.    From Wordnik.com.  [Press Briefing By Mike Mccurry] Reference

And right now, a lot of people need that downpayment.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 19, 2009] Reference

It pays a tiny downpayment toward tuition for a private school.    From Wordnik.com.  [Remarks At Dnc Dinner In New York] Reference

If you don't think you have enough money for a downpayment, wait.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 17, 2007] Reference

They may scrape to save, but a downpayment is still out of reach.    From Wordnik.com.  [President Remarks At Hud Home Ownership Event] Reference

So these 3,000 Marines are the beginning of the downpayment on that.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jan 14, 2008] Reference

REICHER: It's great inexpensive downpayment on dealing with global warming.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Dec 2, 2009] Reference

Giving you a tax credit to allow you to make a downpayment on your first home.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jan 25, 2004] Reference

I said, "We've made a downpayment into the international trust to battle AIDS.".    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jun 26, 2001] Reference

And a lot of these organizations give money to help with downpayment assistance.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 19, 2009] Reference

He's also come forward with a modest energy tax because -- as a downpayment on the deficit.    From Wordnik.com.  [Press Briefing By George Stephanopoulos] Reference

Rather the downpayment before all the main negotiations about refugees, about the borders begin.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jun 1, 2003] Reference

I used 10% for an annual finance rate (might be optimistic, I know), no downpayment, and a 36 month term.    From Wordnik.com.  [kevynwight Diary Entry] Reference

Someone who had downpayment savings in the market in 2008 will be waiting a long time to buy at this point.    From Wordnik.com.  [Color of Money Live] Reference

The measures included the introduction of a minimum downpayment of 50% on land purchases from the government.    From Wordnik.com.  [China Urban Property Prices Rise] Reference

I don't make enough money for us to be able to compile enough money together to make a downpayment on a place.    From Wordnik.com.  [And The Fit Hits The Shan... Repeatedly] Reference

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there's a price for it, the downpayment has been paid, 40 lives were given for this land.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jun 9, 2007] Reference

A better bet is save more now so you can have a bigger downpayment when the market hits its low point next year.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 17, 2007] Reference

This is an essential downpayment on welfare reform -- really rewards work and family, and it's very, very important.    From Wordnik.com.  [Arizona Satellite Press Conference] Reference

This chart shows what has happened to 30-year fixed rate mortgages with a 20-percent downpayment since the election.    From Wordnik.com.  [Presidents Remarks To National Realtors Association] Reference

Expect to put down a 10 percent to 20 percent downpayment and your credit score is going to have to be better as well.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 17, 2007] Reference

Of course, this initiative by itself is not a solution to the global hunger problem, but it's a downpayment and a beginning.    From Wordnik.com.  [Remarks By The President At Global Feeding Event] Reference

We've already put some new police officers on the street through the funds we provided last year as a downpayment on the crime bill.    From Wordnik.com.  [President In Conference Call With Ag Reno And Mayors] Reference

I was rather surprised that after we had the downpayment on education, suddenly we stopped the funding, and it went in a different way.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 5, 2004] Reference

The way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through SCHIP is a downpayment on my commitment to cover every single American.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 4, 2009] Reference

It's Grandma calling to tell us that she will have five grand for us tomorrow and to be ready to use that as a downpayment on the new home.    From Wordnik.com.  [unclebob Diary Entry] Reference