Abstract: A dowel including an anchor rod (2) provided at front, in a setting direction, end with a head portion (4) widening in the setting direction, and a sleeve (5) having a through-bore and axially displaceable along the anchor rod, with the sleeve (5) having, at its end adjacent to the head portion (4) an expansion region (6) formed by a plurality of expansion tabs (7) separated from each other by substantially axially extending slots (8) and radially expandable upon a relative displacement of the sleeve (5) and the anchor rod (2), and a sleeve section adjoining the expansion region (6) and having, in its rear end region (10), a larger diameter (G) than in its front end region (12) adjoining the expansion region (6), with the sleeve section having a narrowing intermediate region (11) extending between the rear end region (10) and the front end region (12) and having a smallest outer diameter (M) which is smaller than an outer diameter (F) in the front end region (12).