pay down
1. To provide a monetary deposit in exchange for something; to make a down payment. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pay" and "down." How much would I have to pay down for this car?
2. To pay small amounts of money over time to decrease a debt. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pay" and "down." I'm trying to pay down my credit card debt, but it's hard because my freelance jobs are so unpredictable.
pay something down
. 1. Lit. to make a deposit of money on a purchase. You will have to pay a lot of money down on a car that expensive. I only paid down a few thousand dollars.
2. Fig. to reduce a bill by paying part of it, usually periodically. I think I can pay the balance down by half in a few months. I will pay down the balance a little next month.